Rincon Point Surf Forecast, Santa Barbara County, California

Santa Barbara County, California

La Conchita Beach0-1ft Little Rincon/Mussel Shoals0-1ft Tarpits/Carpinteria State BeachFlat

Current Conditions

Very Poor

Wave Height

0-1ft

flat to ankle high

Swell Period

11s

Wind

3mph

SSE / Gusts 5mph

Conditions

Very Poor

Active Swells

Primary

0.5ft @ 11sS

Secondary

0.3ft @ 14sSW

Tertiary

0.3ft @ 2sSSE

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days

Tue, Mar 31Flat

Very Poor

6am9am12pm3pm

Wed, Apr 1Flat

Very Poor

Not the most exciting day — Flat and very poor conditions with light winds out of the NW.

6am9am12pm3pm

11s S|3-6mph WNW

Thu, Apr 21-2ft

Poor

A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with 11mph W winds.

6am9am12pm3pm

5s WSW|5-11mph W

Sat

Forecast Charts

Rincon Point Surf Spot Guide

Break

Point

Bottom

Rock

Level

Intermediate

Crowd

Moderate

Best Swell

Best Wind

Season

Fall

Rincon Point is a classic right-hand point break that peels off consistently along a rocky headland in Santa Barbara County, offering long, quality waves that peel down the point during proper swells. The spot handles a range of swell directions thanks to its protected geography along the Santa Barbara coast, with the best waves arriving during Southern Hemisphere winter swells combined with offshore northwest winds. This is a scenic, well-established break that rewards patience with extended rides and a fun, forgiving wave face for intermediate surfers looking to improve their skills.

RocksLocalism

Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.

Rincon Point Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Rincon Point?

The current wave height at Rincon Point is 0-1ft with a 11s swell period. Wind is SSE at 3mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor.

How accurate is the Rincon Point surf forecast?

Our Rincon Point forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable. Extended forecasts show general trends.

What is the breaking wave height at Rincon Point?

The current breaking wave height at Rincon Point is 0-1ft, produced by a 0.5ft S primary swell at 11s, a 0.3ft SW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.3ft SSE tertiary swell at 2s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.

When is the best time to surf Rincon Point?

Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Rincon Point is Thursday from 5 PM to 8 PM with 2ft waves, a 6.15s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.