Santa Barbara County, California
Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly very poor with strong WNW wind at 21mph.
Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly very poor with strong WNW wind at 21mph.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Skunk Point for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Skunk 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.
Thu, Sep 3: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and very poor with 21mph WNW winds.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 11s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and very poor conditions with 23mph out of the NW.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with 9mph from the NW.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SSE swell at 14s with 8mph from the NW. Onshore flow builds through the day to 18mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 13s period, rated Poor. Midday is the call — 2-3ft waves with 10mph from the WNW and poor - fair conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Very Poor today — get one free email when Skunk Point turns Good.
Check Skunk Point from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Skunk Point is a rocky point break located along Santa Barbara County's rugged coastline, where consistent SSW swells wrap around the headland to create well-defined, peeling waves. The break benefits from a natural point formation that offers multiple takeoff zones and varying wave heights depending on swell angle and tide, making it a quality option for intermediate surfers seeking less crowded conditions. The rocky bottom and surrounding cliffs create a scenic, somewhat isolated setting that rarely gets overrun despite producing quality, shapely waves.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Skunk Point is 1-2ft with a 4.8s swell period. Wind is NW at 25mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Skunk Point is 1-2ft, produced by a 3.8ft WNW wind swell swell at 5s, a 1.9ft SSW secondary swell at 10s, a 1ft SW tertiary swell at 16s, a 0.8ft S tertiary swell at 16s. 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 Skunk Point is Sunday from 11 AM to 2 PM with 2ft waves, a 13.9s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Skunk Point works best with a NNE swell and SSW 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 Skunk 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.
Skunk Point is a point with a rock bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Skunk Point is a rocky point break located along Santa Barbara County's rugged coastline, where consistent SSW swells wrap around the headland to create well-defined, peeling waves. The break benefits from a natural point formation that offers multiple takeoff zones and varying wave heights depending on swell angle and tide, making it a quality option for intermediate surfers seeking less crowded conditions. The rocky bottom and surrounding cliffs create a scenic, somewhat isolated setting that rarely gets overrun despite producing quality, shapely waves.
The prime season at Skunk 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 Skunk Point include rocks, sharp reef, strong currents, isolated location. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Skunk 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. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
