Santa Barbara County, California
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 1–1ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1ft and poor conditions with calm winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 8mph.
Wed, Jul 1: 1–1ft, 18s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 1ft and very poor with calm winds.
Thu, Jul 2: 1–1ft, 18s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1ft and mostly very poor with gentle ESE breeze.
Fri, Jul 3: 1–1ft, 18s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1ft and mostly very poor with gentle SE breeze.
Sat, Jul 4: 0–1ft, 16s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with gentle SSE breeze.
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 1ft with a 13.7s swell period. Wind is SW at 6mph and conditions are rated 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 1ft, produced by a 1ft WSW primary swell at 6s, a 0.6ft SSW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.3ft S 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 Tuesday from 5 PM to 8 PM with 1ft waves, a 17.95s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
