Santa Barbara County, California
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.
Sun, May 10: 7–8ft, 13s period, rated Very Good. Solid day on tap with 7-8ft waves on NW swell at 8s and 12mph from the NNW.
Mon, May 11: 5–6ft, 16s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 5-6ft waves on NW swell at 10s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the NW and dropping conditions to very good.
Tue, May 12: 4–5ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. 4-5ft waves to start the day on NW swell at 11s.
Wed, May 13: 3–4ft, 13s period, rated Fair. Steady 3-4ft waves on offer on NW swell at 11s — light winds out of the WSW.
Thu, May 14: 5–6ft, 13s period, rated Fair - Good. Get out early for the best of it — 5-6ft waves on WNW swell at 12s and 20mph out of the NW. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
13s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
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 6-8ft with a 13.45s swell period. Wind is NNW at 12mph and conditions are rated Very Good. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Wave Buoy 46047 is 6-8ft, produced by a 5.1ft NW primary swell at 8s, a 2.7ft WNW secondary swell at 13s, a 2.3ft SSW tertiary swell at 18s. 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 7ft waves, a 13.45s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
