Santa Barbara County, California
Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with light S winds.
Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with light S winds.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Tarpits/Carpinteria State Beach for the cleanest windows.
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 0–1ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with light S winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
Fri, Sep 4: 0–1ft, 18s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 15mph.
Sat, Sep 5: 0–1ft, 13s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with light winds out of the NE.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on S swell at 14s with light NNW winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Mon, Sep 7: 1–2ft, 13s period, rated Very Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on S swell at 13s with light winds out of the N. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
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 Tarpits/Carpinteria State Beach turns Good.
Check Tarpits/Carpinteria State Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 0-1ft with a 4.9s swell period. Wind is S at 6mph. 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 Tarpits/Carpinteria State Beach is 0-1ft, produced by a 1.2ft WSW wind swell swell at 5s, a 0.9ft SSW secondary swell at 11s, a 0.6ft 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 1ft waves, a 14s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. 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. 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).
