Santa Barbara County, California
Best window·Thursday 6AM–9AM·4ft·Fair - Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Jalama Beach County Park, 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.
Wed, Jun 24: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on W swell at 11s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 7mph from the WNW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Thu, Jun 25: 3–4ft, 17s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on SSW swell at 16s with barely a breath of wind. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 14mph and poor - fair by then.
Fri, Jun 26: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Very Poor. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on SSW swell at 14s with 7mph from the NW. Onshore flow builds through the day to 18mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Sat, Jun 27: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Very Poor. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 14s with strong NNW wind at 13mph. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 19mph from the NW and dropping conditions to very poor.
Sun, Jun 28: 3–4ft, 17s period, rated Very Poor. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on SSW swell at 16s with 9mph from the NNW. Onshore flow builds through the day to 20mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Jalama Beach is a scenic sandy beach break located on the remote northern edge of Santa Barbara County, offering consistent winter swells wrapped around the point with a northeast-facing exposure. The beach setup provides fun, workable waves across a range of skill levels, with the advantage of relatively uncrowded conditions due to its isolated location and small parking area. The picturesque setting between rugged cliffs and a protected cove makes it a rewarding destination for those willing to make the drive.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Jalama Beach County Park is 2-4ft with a 16.65s swell period. Wind is WNW at 13mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Jalama Beach County Park is 2-4ft, produced by a 1.6ft SSW primary swell at 14s, a 1.6ft SSW secondary swell at 17s, a 0.3ft WNW tertiary swell at 12s, a 2.2ft NW wind swell swell at 8s. 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 Jalama Beach County Park is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 15.75s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Jalama Beach County Park works best with a NW 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 Jalama Beach County Park. 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.
Jalama Beach County Park is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Jalama Beach is a scenic sandy beach break located on the remote northern edge of Santa Barbara County, offering consistent winter swells wrapped around the point with a northeast-facing exposure. The beach setup provides fun, workable waves across a range of skill levels, with the advantage of relatively uncrowded conditions due to its isolated location and small parking area. The picturesque setting between rugged cliffs and a protected cove makes it a rewarding destination for those willing to make the drive.
The prime season at Jalama Beach County Park 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 Jalama Beach County Park include rocks at point ends, strong currents, isolated location, limited facilities. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Jalama Beach County Park 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
