Isla Vista Surf Forecast and Surf Reports

(Santa Barbara, USA)

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Isla Vista Surf Guide

Isla Vista in Santa Barbara is a fairly exposed beach and reef break that has fairly consistent surf. Winter is the best time of year for surfing here. Works best in offshore winds from the northeast. Waves just as likely from local windswells as from distant groundswells and the best swell direction is from the west. The beach break offers both left and right hand waves. Best around low tide. Often Crowded. Submerged rocks are a hazard.

Isla Vista Spot Info

Type:	Rating:
Beach and reef	2
Reliability:	Todays Sea Temp*:
fairly consistent	56°F*ocean temperature recorded from satellite

Surfing Isla Vista:

The best conditions reported for surf at Isla Vista occur when a West swell combines with an offshore wind direction from the Northeast.

Surf Forecasts:

Hourly Forecast

12 Day Forecast

What's the best time of year to surf Isla Vista (for consistent clean waves)?

januaryBest Season: winter

The best time of year for surfing Isla Vista with consistent clean waves (rideable swell with light / offshore winds) is during Winter and most often the month of January. Clean surfable waves are typically found 25% of the time in January while 48% of the time it tends to be blown out. For the remaining 27% of the time it is considered too small by most surfers but may still be OK for beginners and groms at times.

clean

25%

Surfable waves that hold up well for longer rides in prevailing cross-offshore, offshore or light wind conditions.

blown out

48%

Surfable sized waves that are of poorer quality due to prevailing onshore, cross-onshore or windy conditions (may be preferable for kitesurfing).

too small

27%

Waves usually considered too small for good surf. Some wave-magnet breaks may still work though if conditions are right (on occasion).

Explore Isla Vista Location Map

Interactive Isla Vista surf break location map. View information about nearby surf breaks, their wave consistency and rating compared to other spots in the region. Current swell conditions from local buoys are shown along with live wind speed and direction from nearby weather stations. Click icons on the map for more detail. The closest passenger airport to Isla Vista is Vandenberg Afb (Lompoc) Airport (VBG) in USA, 74 km (46 miles) away (directly). The second nearest airport to Isla Vista is Point Mugu Nas Airport (NTD), also in USA, 76 km (47 miles) away.

Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (ft)
Live Wind Speed (mph)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (ft)
Wind Speed (mph)

Please note that some surf spot locations are approximate to protect their exact location while others are not shown at close zoom level.

Isla Vista Surf Forecasts:

Hourly Forecast

12 Day Forecast

Todays Surf Summary
Thursday, 17 April 2025, 05:27 Local Time

m, °C	Thursday 17
ft, °F	8AM	11AM	2PM	5PM
Wave (ft)	SW	WNW	WNW	WNW
Period (s)	16	13	13	13
Wind (mph)
Wind State	cross	on	on	cross- on

Tides at Isla Vista

Current tide and informaton

For Isla Vista, 1 miles from Isla Vista.

Next High Water: 03:20pm | 4ft

Next Low Water: 07:37am | 2ft

NEXT	IS AT (local time)	remaining
high tide
low tide

Isla Vista Sea Temperature

The water temperature (13.3 °C) at Isla Vista is quite cool. If the sun shines as we have forecast, it should feel warm enough to surf in a good spring wetsuit. Effective windchill factor of (16.0 °C) will make the air and water feel about the same temperature.

Today, many surfers would wear a spring wetsuit.

Current Temp*: 56°F*ocean temperature recorded from satellite