Surf Forecast Surf Report
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El Capitan surfForecast / CAL – Santa Barbara / USA

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 3 am Wednesday 05 Feb 2025 PST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
El Capitan surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's El Capitan sea temperature is
13.6° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)


Best Forecast Surf Conditions for El Capitan this week:

The surf forecast for El Capitan over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Feb 05) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 15s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 4s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at El Capitan in the next 12 days are 1.9m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Feb 05) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 6s period and expected on Monday (Feb 10) at 4PM.

Wave TypeTime (PST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Wed 5th Feb)6ft (1.9m) 10s
Best Surf 4AM (Sat 8th Feb)7ft (2.1m) 9s
Most Powerful 7AM (Wed 5th Feb)6ft (1.9m) 10s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Capitan over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Wednesday
05
Thursday
06
Friday
07
Saturday
08
Sunday
09
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
AMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
1.7
WSW
1.4
WSW
1.2
WSW
1
WSW
0.4
S
0.6
WNW
1.5
WSW
1.8
W
1.6
WNW
1.5
WNW
1.7
WNW
1.3
WNW
1.5
WNW
0.7
WNW
1.6
WNW
1.3
WNW
0.3
WNW
1.7
WNW
1.5
WNW
0.9
WNW
0.9
WNW
0.7
WNW
1.3
WNW
1.4
WNW
1.2
WNW
1.3
WNW
1.5
WNW
3
W
3
WNW
2.5
WNW
2.1
WNW
1.2
WNW
1.1
WNW
0.9
WNW
0.8
WNW
0.8
WNW
Period(s) (?)109111120158898898168918981413171614201918121212161515141414
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy (?)574355383245144142270418355315314261307229323273624393303012572867837991021117114623061300519862115636498330239236
Wind
(km/h)
10
ESE
5
ESE
15
SSE
10
SE
20
ESE
15
ESE
20
NW
25
NW
10
N
5
NNW
5
NNW
10
N
5
NW
20
WNW
15
N
10
NNW
15
NW
15
NNW
15
NW
30
NW
15
NW
5
S
5
S
15
SW
20
NW
25
WNW
5
W
5
S
10
W
15
NNW
15
NNW
15
NNW
10
N
5
S
10
SW
5
N
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
crosscross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
crosscross-
on
cross-
off
cross-
off
offglassglassoffglasscross-
off
offcross-
off
cross-
off
offcross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
glassglasscross-
on
cross-
off
cross-
off
glassglasscrosscross-
off
cross-
off
offoffglasscross-
on
off
High Tide
/ height (m)
5:04PM
1.23
3:51AM
2.03
6:54PM
1.32
4:59AM
2.08
7:52PM
1.41
6:01AM
2.15
8:31PM
1.49
6:55AM
2.21
9:03PM
1.55
7:42AM
2.26
9:33PM
1.59
8:24AM
2.26
10:00PM
1.62
9:03AM
2.21
10:27PM
1.66
9:39AM
2.11
10:53PM
1.69
10:15AM
1.98
11:18PM
1.72
10:52AM
1.80
11:44PM
1.74
11:31AM
1.61
12:10AM
1.75
Low Tide
/ height (m)
10:31AM
0.58
8:39PM
1.11
11:50AM
0.41
10:10PM
1.21
12:51PM
0.26
11:36PM
1.22
1:40PM
0.15
12:41AM
1.17
2:22PM
0.09
1:32AM
1.09
2:59PM
0.08
2:15AM
1.02
3:33PM
0.11
2:56AM
0.95
4:03PM
0.18
3:35AM
0.90
4:31PM
0.29
4:16AM
0.87
4:56PM
0.43
4:58AM
0.86
5:19PM
0.58
5:43AM
0.86
5:40PM
0.74
Wednesday
05
Thursday
06
Friday
07
Saturday
08
Sunday
09
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Sunrise6:54--6:54--6:52--6:52--6:50--6:50--6:48--6:48--6:47--6:46--6:45--6:43--
Sunset-5:32--5:34--5:35--5:36--5:37--5:37--5:38--5:39--5:40--5:42--5:43--5:44-
cloudpart cloudcloudcloudmod rainheavy rainpart cloudclearclearpart cloudclearclearclearclearclearclearclearclearclearpart cloudcloudlight rainlight rainheavy rainrain showerspart cloudpart cloudrain showersrain showersclearclearclearclearclearclearclear
Rain (mm)
----611---------------11424--21-------
Temp. °C151514141314141391717917178171771817121314151514111313915157161510
Feels °C (?)1415131110128751415513124121121111111314129910111161010313117

Short Range Forecast: Moderate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed morning, min 7°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat morning, min 5°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 6-9 Weather Summary Heavy rain (total 48mm), heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue morning, min 10°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Long Range Forecast: Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun morning, min 6°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the El Capitan Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for El Capitan provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 12 days. A general guide to surfing at El Capitan can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our El Capitan surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (El Capitan) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).

Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for El Capitan may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.

El Capitan is 16 km (10 miles) from Isla Vista. If you plan a vacation in Santa Barbara, look for hotels and other accommodation in Isla Vista. Isla Vista has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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