Santa Barbara County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Sandspit, 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.
Sun, May 10: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Consistent 2-3ft surf through the day on WSW swell at 8s with light SSW winds.
Mon, May 11: 1–2ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on WSW swell at 9s and barely a breath of wind. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with light winds out of the SW.
Wed, May 13: 0–1ft, 15s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with light winds out of the ESE.
Thu, May 14: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Morning kicks off with 1-2ft on WSW swell at 4s. Expect 9mph WSW winds by the afternoon.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Sandspit is a mellow beach break located along Santa Barbara County's coastline, offering forgiving sand bottom waves ideal for learners and intermediate surfers. The spot receives consistent Pacific swell during winter months and benefits from easterly offshore winds that groom the faces nicely. Its sandy composition and gradual beach setup make it a welcoming entry point for developing your skills in a relaxed, uncrowded environment.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Sandspit is 2-3ft with a 15.6s swell period. Wind is SSW at 6mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Sandspit is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.2ft WSW primary swell at 9s, a 0.5ft SW secondary swell at 16s, a 0.4ft W tertiary swell at 12s. 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 Sandspit is Sunday from 1 PM to 4 PM with 3ft waves, a 15.6s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Sandspit 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 Sandspit. 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.
Sandspit is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Sandspit is a mellow beach break located along Santa Barbara County's coastline, offering forgiving sand bottom waves ideal for learners and intermediate surfers. The spot receives consistent Pacific swell during winter months and benefits from easterly offshore winds that groom the faces nicely. Its sandy composition and gradual beach setup make it a welcoming entry point for developing your skills in a relaxed, uncrowded environment.
The prime season at Sandspit 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 Sandspit include occasional rip currents, shifting sandbars. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Sandspit 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.
