Conditions at Santa Barbara in August
August: Warm Water, Marginal Swell
August is a near mirror of July but with a touch more energy: average swell rises to 1.4m (4.6ft) and period to 9.8s. NNW remains the dominant swell direction at 23.8%, and the favourable N-NE quadrant contributes around 23% of the total. Most waves are small, 0.5-2m (2-6.5ft), with occasional 2-2.5m (6.5-8ft) sets when some early Atlantic storm energy sneaks through. The wind statistics are still summer-like: N/NE directions around 36% and ideal offshore windows at 22%. Water temperature peaks at 23.4°C and air temp averages 22.7°C, the warmest month of the year. The few dawn-burst sessions with light S/SW wind are the ones worth chasing.
Average Spot conditions at Santa Barbara in August
Swell history for August
Wind history for August
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Santa Barbara during August. Based on historical data, there is a % probability of groundswell occurring this month. The chart below provides a detailed breakdown of the average wave height distribution, offering deep insights into the swell quality and surf potential you can expect at Santa Barbara for your next trip in August.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Santa Barbara for August. Our analysis shows that favorable offshore or side-shore winds coincide with surfable swell approximately % of the time. The accompanying graph illustrates the average size distribution of waves during these optimal wind windows at Santa Barbara.