Swell Intel

Tarpits/Carpinteria State Beach Surf Forecast, Santa Barbara County, California

Santa Barbara County, California

Rincon Point0-1ftLa Conchita Beach0-1ftLittle Rincon/Mussel Shoals0-1ft
Tarpits/Carpinteria State Beach surf spot

Current Conditions

Poor
Wave Height
1-2ft
ankle to knee high
Swell Period
11.35s
Wind
4mph
E / Gusts 5mph
Conditions
Poor
Active Swells
Primary
0.5ft @ 11sS
Secondary
0.3ft @ 15sSW
Tertiary
0.3ft @ 2sSSW

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Tue, Mar 311-2ft
Poor

A slow one — 0-1ft waves and poor conditions with barely a breath of wind.

6am9am12pm3pm
12s SSW|2mph S
Wed, Apr 11-2ft
Very Poor

A slow one — 0-1ft waves and poor conditions with light winds out of the NW.

6am9am12pm3pm
11s S|3-5mph NW
Thu, Apr 21-2ft
Poor

A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with 12mph WNW winds.

6am9am12pm3pm
4s WSW|4-12mph NW
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Sat

Forecast Charts

Tarpits/Carpinteria State Beach Surf Spot Guide

Break
Beach
Bottom
Sand
Level
Beginner
Crowd
Moderate
Best Swell
SSW
Best Wind
NE
Season
Fall

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.

Tar depositsOccasional strong rip currents

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

Tarpits/Carpinteria State Beach Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Tarpits/Carpinteria State Beach?
The current wave height at Tarpits/Carpinteria State Beach is 1-2ft with a 11.35s swell period. Wind is E at 4mph. Conditions are rated Poor.
How accurate is the Tarpits/Carpinteria State Beach surf forecast?
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.
What is the breaking wave height at Tarpits/Carpinteria State Beach?
The current breaking wave height at Tarpits/Carpinteria State Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 0.5ft S primary swell at 11s, a 0.3ft SW secondary swell at 15s, a 0.3ft SSW tertiary swell at 2s. 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 Tarpits/Carpinteria State Beach?
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 3ft waves, a 16.7s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.