Santa Barbara County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Rincon Point, Santa Barbara County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sat, May 16: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on WSW swell at 8s with barely a breath of wind. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 8mph from the S and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on WSW swell at 7s with glassy conditions. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 13s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on WSW swell at 8s with light winds out of the NE. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with gentle E breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 7mph.
Wed, May 20: 0–1ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly poor with glassy conditions. Afternoon breeze fills in to 7mph.
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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.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Rincon Point is 2-3ft with a 15.45s swell period. Wind is N at 2mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Rincon Point is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.6ft WSW primary swell at 6s, a 0.7ft S secondary swell at 13s, a 0.6ft WSW tertiary swell at 10s. 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.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Rincon Point is Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 7.3s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Rincon Point works best with a W swell and NE winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Rincon Point. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Rincon Point is a point with a rock bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. 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.
The prime season at Rincon Point is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Rincon Point include rocks, localism. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
