Santa Barbara County, California
Best window·Sunday 12PM–3PM·6ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Wave Buoy 46047, 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: 3–5ft, 17s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-5ft waves on SSW swell at 17s with glassy conditions. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Thu, Jun 25: 3–5ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Morning kicks off with 3-5ft on SSW swell at 16s.
Fri, Jun 26: 4–6ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 3-5ft and mostly poor - fair with 16mph out of the NNW.
Sat, Jun 27: 3–5ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 3-5ft and mostly poor - fair with 17mph out of the NW.
Sun, Jun 28: 7–8ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Patience pays off today — morning is poor - fair with 6-7ft. Later in the day looks more promising — 7-8ft and poor - fair.
Wave Buoy 46047 marks a productive beach break along Santa Barbara County's southern coast, where consistent Pacific swells wrap around the Channel Islands and reform along sandy shores. Winter storms deliver the most reliable wave energy, creating peaky peaks that work best on mid-tide with moderate size. The exposed, open-water location means you're reading raw swell data from one of California's most important forecasting buoys—a spot favored by local surfers who understand the nuances of seasonal swell patterns.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Wave Buoy 46047 is 3-4ft with a 16.55s swell period. Wind is NW at 15mph 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 Wave Buoy 46047 is 3-4ft, produced by a 2.4ft SSW primary swell at 17s, a 2ft SSW secondary swell at 13s, a 0.3ft WNW tertiary swell at 13s, a 2.5ft 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 Wave Buoy 46047 is Sunday from 12 PM to 3 PM with 6ft waves, a 7.35s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Wave Buoy 46047 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 Wave Buoy 46047. 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.
Wave Buoy 46047 is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Wave Buoy 46047 marks a productive beach break along Santa Barbara County's southern coast, where consistent Pacific swells wrap around the Channel Islands and reform along sandy shores. Winter storms deliver the most reliable wave energy, creating peaky peaks that work best on mid-tide with moderate size. The exposed, open-water location means you're reading raw swell data from one of California's most important forecasting buoys—a spot favored by local surfers who understand the nuances of seasonal swell patterns.
The prime season at Wave Buoy 46047 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 Wave Buoy 46047 include strong currents, occasional sea urchins, variable sand conditions. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Wave Buoy 46047 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.
