Swell Intel

Wave Buoy 46047 Surf Forecast, Santa Barbara County, California

Santa Barbara County, California

Skunk Point1-2ftLunada Bay0-1ftWhite Point0-1ft

Current Conditions

Fair
Wave Height
2-3ft
waist to chest high
Swell Period
10.9s
Wind
18mph
NW / Gusts 22mph
Conditions
Fair
Active Swells
Primary
1.4ft @ 8sNW
Secondary
1.2ft @ 10sSSE
Tertiary
1.1ft @ 11sWNW

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Tue, Mar 313-4ft
Fair
6am9am12pm3pm
Wed, Apr 13-4ft
Poor - Fair

Afternoon is the play — morning is only poor - fair at 3-4ft. Later in the day looks more promising — 3-4ft and fair.

6am9am12pm3pm
9s NW|14-15mph WNW
Thu, Apr 25-6ft
Fair - Good

Rideable all day with 3-4ft waves on WNW swell at 13s and 18mph NW winds.

6am9am12pm3pm
13s WNW|17-19mph NW
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Sat

Forecast Charts

Wave Buoy 46047 Surf Spot Guide

Break
Beach
Bottom
Sand
Level
Intermediate
Crowd
Light
Best Swell
W
Best Wind
E
Season
Winter

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.

Strong currentsOccasional sea urchinsVariable sand conditions

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

Wave Buoy 46047 Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Wave Buoy 46047?
The current wave height at Wave Buoy 46047 is 2-3ft with a 10.9s swell period. Wind is NW at 18mph. Conditions are rated Fair.
How accurate is the Wave Buoy 46047 surf forecast?
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.
What is the breaking wave height at Wave Buoy 46047?
The current breaking wave height at Wave Buoy 46047 is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.4ft NW primary swell at 8s, a 1.2ft SSE secondary swell at 10s, a 1.1ft WNW tertiary swell at 11s. 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 Wave Buoy 46047?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Wave Buoy 46047 is Friday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 9ft waves, a 10.85s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.