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: 6–7ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 6-7ft waves on WSW swell at 8s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 8mph from the S and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Sun, May 17: 8–9ft, 15s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 7-8ft on WSW swell at 7s with calm winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Mon, May 18: 5–6ft, 13s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 6-7ft on WSW swell at 8s with gentle NE breeze. Onshore flow builds through the day to 7mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Tue, May 19: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on WSW swell at 6s with light winds out of the ESE. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Wed, May 20: 2–3ft, 14s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on WSW swell at 5s with gentle SE breeze. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
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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 5-7ft with a 15.45s swell period. Wind is N at 2mph 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 5-7ft, produced by a 1.6ft WSW primary swell at 6s, a 0.7ft S secondary swell at 13s, a 0.6ft WSW tertiary swell at 10s. 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 7.3s 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.
