Santa Barbara County, California
Get out early for the best of it — 4-5ft waves on NW swell at 5s and 17mph out of the NW.
Get out early for the best of it — 4-5ft waves on NW swell at 5s and 17mph out of the NW.
Best window·Sunday 9AM–12PM·4-5ft·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.
Thu, Sep 3: 4–5ft, 6s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 4-5ft waves on NW swell at 5s and 17mph out of the NW. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Fri, Sep 4: 4–5ft, 13s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on SSE swell at 13s with 13mph out of the NW. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Sat, Sep 5: 4–5ft, 14s period, rated Good. Looking good out there — 4-5ft all day on SSE swell at 13s with moderate NNW wind around 11mph.
Sun, Sep 6: 4–5ft, 14s period, rated Good. First light looks cleanest — 4-5ft on S swell at 14s with 14mph out of the NNW. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Mon, Sep 7: 4–5ft, 13s period, rated Fair - Good. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on S swell at 13s with 16mph NNW winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
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Check Wave Buoy 46047 from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 4-5ft with a 5.5s swell period. Wind is NW at 17mph. Conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Wave Buoy 46047 is 4-5ft, produced by a 4.4ft NW wind swell swell at 6s, a 2.4ft SSW secondary swell at 10s, a 1.6ft NW tertiary swell at 10s, a 1.4ft SSW tertiary swell at 14s. 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 Sunday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 5ft waves, a 13.7s swell period, and conditions rated 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. 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).
