Santa Barbara County, California
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.
Sat, May 16: 11–12ft, 10s period, rated Very Good. Get out early for the best of it — 10-11ft waves on SSW swell at 14s and 23mph out of the NNW. Onshore flow builds through the day to 31mph, bringing conditions down to fair.
Sun, May 17: 16–17ft, 11s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 16-17ft on S swell at 14s with strong NNW wind at 32mph. Surf tapers off through the afternoon to 16-17ft.
Mon, May 18: 12–13ft, 12s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 14-15ft on NW swell at 12s with moderate NNW wind around 9mph. The NNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 22mph and fair by then.
Tue, May 19: 6–7ft, 17s period, rated Fair - Good. Expect 7-8ft waves early on NW swell at 11s. Surf fills in through the day, reaching 10-11ft by afternoon. The NNW wind builds to around 7mph by afternoon.
Wed, May 20: 6–7ft, 16s period, rated Fair - Good. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 6-7ft with 7mph WNW winds. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
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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 9.45s swell period. Wind is NNW at 24mph 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 Wave Buoy 46047 is 8-10ft, produced by a 1.9ft SSW primary swell at 15s, a 1.6ft S secondary swell at 13s, a 1.2ft NW tertiary swell at 17s, a 7.9ft NW wind swell swell at 9s. 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 Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 14ft waves, a 11.9s 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
