Swell Intel

Sands Beach Surf Forecast

Santa Barbara County, California

Sands Beach surf spot

Current Conditions

Very Poor
Wave Height
0-1ft
flat to ankle high
Swell Period
15.75s
Wind
5mph
SE / Gusts 7mph
Conditions
Very Poor
Active Swells
Primary
1.4ft @ 8sW
Secondary
0.7ft @ 16sSW
Tertiary
0.3ft @ 11sSSW

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Spot Guide

Break
Beach
Bottom
Sand
Level
Beginner
Crowd
Moderate
Best Swell
S
Best Wind
NE
Season
Fall

Sands Beach is a forgiving sandy beach break located along Santa Barbara County's coastline, offering accessible waves that peel consistently across a soft sand bottom. The beach faces north-northeast, capturing winter swells from the northwest while benefiting from offshore southeast winds that groom the faces. This is an ideal learning ground for beginners and intermediate surfers seeking mellow conditions and plenty of room to practice in a scenic California coastal setting.

Shore break at high tideOccasional rip currents

Forecast Charts

Daily Forecast

Thu, Mar 26Very Poor

Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with barely a breath of wind.

6am9am12pm3pm
9s W|Calm
Fri, Mar 27Very Poor

Slim pickings today — Flat and very poor with glassy conditions.

6am9am12pm3pm
6s WSW|Calm
Sat, Mar 28Very Poor

Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with barely a breath of wind.

6am9am12pm3pm
5s WSW|Calm
Sun, Mar 29Very Poor

Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with barely a breath of wind.

6am9am12pm3pm
5s WSW|Calm
Mon, Mar 30Very Poor

Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with calm winds.

6am9am12pm3pm
5s WSW|Calm

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Sands Beach Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Sands Beach?
The current wave height at Sands Beach is 0-1ft with a 15.75s swell period. Wind is SE at 5mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor.
How accurate is the Sands Beach surf forecast?
Our Sands Beach 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.