Santa Barbara County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Tarpits/Carpinteria State Beach, 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: 7–8ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 7-8ft on WSW swell at 8s with glassy conditions. Onshore flow builds through the day to 7mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Sun, May 17: 7–8ft, 13s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 8-9ft waves on WSW swell at 7s and glassy conditions. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Mon, May 18: 4–5ft, 16s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 6-7ft on WSW swell at 8s with light winds out of the NE. The SW wind kicks in by afternoon — 7mph and fair by then.
Tue, May 19: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Fair. Expect 2-3ft all day on WSW swell at 6s with gentle ESE breeze — nothing amazing but surfable.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on WSW swell at 5s with light winds out of the SE. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
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Carpinteria State Beach offers accessible, mellow beach breaks that roll onto a sandy bottom with a natural, user-friendly shape. The spot benefits from south-southwest swell direction and works best with northeast offshore winds that groom the waves into clean, peeling lines. This is an ideal location for beginners and intermediate surfers looking for a fun, laid-back session with the added bonus of exploring the historic state beach park.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Tarpits/Carpinteria State Beach is 6-8ft with a 15.3s swell period. Wind is SE at 3mph and conditions are rated Very Good. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Tarpits/Carpinteria State Beach is 6-8ft, produced by a 1.5ft WSW primary swell at 8s, a 0.7ft WSW secondary swell at 10s, a 0.5ft SSW tertiary 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 Tarpits/Carpinteria State Beach is Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 8ft waves, a 13.45s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Tarpits/Carpinteria State Beach works best with a SSW 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 Tarpits/Carpinteria State Beach. 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.
Tarpits/Carpinteria State Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Carpinteria State Beach offers accessible, mellow beach breaks that roll onto a sandy bottom with a natural, user-friendly shape. The spot benefits from south-southwest swell direction and works best with northeast offshore winds that groom the waves into clean, peeling lines. This is an ideal location for beginners and intermediate surfers looking for a fun, laid-back session with the added bonus of exploring the historic state beach park.
The prime season at Tarpits/Carpinteria State Beach 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 Tarpits/Carpinteria State Beach include tar deposits, occasional strong rip currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Tarpits/Carpinteria State 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
