Sandspit Surf Forecast, Santa Barbara County, California
Santa Barbara County, California
Current Conditions
Very PoorWave Height
0-1ft
flat to ankle high
Swell Period
14.35s
Wind
5mph
W / Gusts 7mph
Conditions
Very Poor
Active Swells
Primary
0.5ft @ 2sSE
Secondary
0.5ft @ 14sSW
Tertiary
0.3ft @ 10sSSE
Daily Forecast
3 of 5 daysTue, Mar 310-1ft
Very Poor6am9am12pm3pm
Wed, Apr 10-1ft
Very PoorSlim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with light WNW winds.
6am9am12pm3pm
11s SW|3-6mph WNW
Thu, Apr 21-2ft
PoorSlim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with 10mph from the W.
6am9am12pm3pm
5s WSW|6-10mph WSW
Forecast Charts
Sandspit Surf Spot Guide
Break
Beach
Bottom
Sand
Level
Beginner
Crowd
Light
Best Swell
W
Best Wind
E
Season
Winter
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.
Occasional rip currentsShifting sandbars
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
Sandspit Surf Forecast FAQ
What is the current surf forecast for Sandspit?
The current wave height at Sandspit is 0-1ft with a 14.35s swell period. Wind is W at 5mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor.
How accurate is the Sandspit surf forecast?
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.
What is the breaking wave height at Sandspit?
The current breaking wave height at Sandspit is 0-1ft, produced by a 0.5ft SE primary swell at 2s, a 0.5ft SW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.3ft SSE 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.
When is the best time to surf Sandspit?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Sandspit is Thursday from 2 PM to 5 PM with 2ft waves, a 5.65s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.