Surf Beach Surf Forecast, Santa Barbara County, California

Santa Barbara County, California

Jalama Beach County Park1-2ft The Ranch - Cojo Reef1-2ft Tajiguas0-1ft

Current Conditions

Fair

Wave Height

2-3ft

knee to waist high

Swell Period

14.7s

Wind

11mph

WNW / Gusts 15mph

Conditions

Fair

Active Swells

Primary

1.5ft @ 8sWNW

Secondary

0.9ft @ 11sWNW

Tertiary

0.9ft @ 12sSSW

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days

Tue, Mar 312-3ft

Fair

Rideable all day with 2-3ft waves on NW swell at 8s and calm winds.

6am9am12pm3pm

8s NW|Calm

Wed, Apr 12-3ft

Fair

Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on NW swell at 8s and gentle SW breeze. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.

6am9am12pm3pm

8s WNW|4-6mph NNW

Thu, Apr 22-3ft

Poor

Patience pays off today — morning is poor with 1-2ft. Things come together by the afternoon with 2-3ft at poor - fair.

6am9am12pm3pm

13s WNW|11-14mph NNW

Sat

Forecast Charts

Surf Beach Surf Spot Guide

Break

Beach

Bottom

Sand

Level

Beginner

Crowd

Moderate

Best Swell

Best Wind

Season

Fall

Surf Beach is a classic sandy beach break on the central California coast that offers accessible waves suitable for learners and intermediate surfers. The beach faces nearly due east, making it responsive to winter and fall swells originating from the Pacific, while benefiting from north winds that create clean, organized conditions. The sandy bottom provides forgiving surf with plenty of rolling peaks across a wide lineup, making it an ideal spot for progression and building fundamentals.

Sandbars can shift seasonallyOccasional rip currents

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

Surf Beach Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Surf Beach?

The current wave height at Surf Beach is 2-3ft with a 14.7s swell period. Wind is WNW at 11mph. Conditions are rated Fair.

How accurate is the Surf Beach surf forecast?

Our Surf Beach 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 Surf Beach?

The current breaking wave height at Surf Beach is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.5ft WNW primary swell at 8s, a 0.9ft WNW secondary swell at 11s, a 0.9ft SSW tertiary swell at 12s. 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 Surf Beach?

Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Surf Beach is Friday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 9ft waves, a 11.55s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.