Santa Barbara County, California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Sandspit for the cleanest windows.
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.
Wed, Jun 24: flat–flatft, 18s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — Flat and mostly very poor with calm winds.
Thu, Jun 25: flat–flatft, 17s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — Flat and very poor with light winds out of the ESE.
Fri, Jun 26: flat–flatft, 15s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — Flat waves and very poor conditions with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 7mph.
Sat, Jun 27: 0–1ft, 18s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — Flat and mostly very poor with calm winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 9mph by PM.
Sun, Jun 28: 0–1ft, 16s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with gentle E breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 8mph.
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 Flat with a 16.75s swell period. Wind is SW at 5mph and conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Sandspit is Flat, produced by a 0.5ft SW primary swell at 14s, a 0.5ft SSW secondary swell at 17s, a 0.3ft SSE tertiary swell at 12s, a 0.8ft WSW wind swell swell at 4s. 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 Saturday from 5 PM to 8 PM with 1ft waves, a 5.3s swell period, and conditions rated Very Poor. 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
