Santa Barbara County, California
Best window·Tuesday 3PM–6PM·9ft·Very Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Wave Buoy 46047, 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: 8–10ft, 10s period, rated Fair - Good. Expect 8-10ft all day on NW swell at 10s with light winds out of the NW — nothing amazing but surfable. Expect the wind to bump up to around 12mph by PM.
Wed, Jul 1: 8–10ft, 10s period, rated Fair - Good. Expect 8-10ft waves early on NW swell at 10s.
Thu, Jul 2: 7–8ft, 10s period, rated Fair - Good. Early morning is your best window — 7-8ft waves on NW swell at 10s with 13mph NW winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Fri, Jul 3: 4–6ft, 17s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 4-6ft on NW swell at 9s with 16mph out of the NW. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Sat, Jul 4: 3–5ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-5ft on NW swell at 8s with 10mph NW winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 16mph from the WNW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Wave Buoy 46047 marks a productive beach break along Santa Barbara County's southern coast, where consistent Pacific swells wrap around the Channel Islands and reform along sandy shores. Winter storms deliver the most reliable wave energy, creating peaky peaks that work best on mid-tide with moderate size. The exposed, open-water location means you're reading raw swell data from one of California's most important forecasting buoys—a spot favored by local surfers who understand the nuances of seasonal swell patterns.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Wave Buoy 46047 is 8-10ft with a 9.8s swell period. Wind is NW at 10mph and conditions are rated Fair - Good. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Wave Buoy 46047 is 8-10ft, produced by a 5.8ft NW primary swell at 10s, a 1.3ft SSW secondary swell at 15s, a 1.3ft SSE 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 Wave Buoy 46047 is Tuesday from 3 PM to 6 PM with 9ft waves, a 9.7s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Wave Buoy 46047 works best with a W swell and E 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 Wave Buoy 46047. 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.
Wave Buoy 46047 is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Wave Buoy 46047 marks a productive beach break along Santa Barbara County's southern coast, where consistent Pacific swells wrap around the Channel Islands and reform along sandy shores. Winter storms deliver the most reliable wave energy, creating peaky peaks that work best on mid-tide with moderate size. The exposed, open-water location means you're reading raw swell data from one of California's most important forecasting buoys—a spot favored by local surfers who understand the nuances of seasonal swell patterns.
The prime season at Wave Buoy 46047 is winter, 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 Wave Buoy 46047 include strong currents, occasional sea urchins, variable sand conditions. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Wave Buoy 46047 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.
