Santa Barbara County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Sandspit, 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: 4–5ft, 10s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 4-5ft waves on WSW swell at 10s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 7mph from the SE and dropping conditions to fair.
Sun, May 17: 4–5ft, 13s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 5-6ft waves on WSW swell at 7s with light winds out of the NNW. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Mon, May 18: 3–4ft, 13s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 4-5ft on WSW swell at 8s with light NE winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 7mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Tue, May 19: 0–1ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with gentle ESE breeze.
Wed, May 20: 0–1ft, 22s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with light winds out of the SE.
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Sandspit is a mellow beach break located along Santa Barbara County's coastline, offering forgiving sand bottom waves ideal for learners and intermediate surfers. The spot receives consistent Pacific swell during winter months and benefits from easterly offshore winds that groom the faces nicely. Its sandy composition and gradual beach setup make it a welcoming entry point for developing your skills in a relaxed, uncrowded environment.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Sandspit is 3-4ft with a 9.8s swell period. Wind is NW at 2mph and conditions are rated Fair - Good. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Sandspit is 3-4ft, produced by a 1.9ft WSW primary swell at 10s, a 0.6ft SSW secondary swell at 15s. 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 Sandspit is Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 6ft waves, a 7.3s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Sandspit works best with a W swell and E 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 Sandspit. 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.
Sandspit is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Sandspit is a mellow beach break located along Santa Barbara County's coastline, offering forgiving sand bottom waves ideal for learners and intermediate surfers. The spot receives consistent Pacific swell during winter months and benefits from easterly offshore winds that groom the faces nicely. Its sandy composition and gradual beach setup make it a welcoming entry point for developing your skills in a relaxed, uncrowded environment.
The prime season at Sandspit is winter, 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 Sandspit include occasional rip currents, shifting sandbars. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Sandspit 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.
