Santa Barbara tides today
- Tide now -0.1 ft ↑ rising · high 1:06 am (3.6 ft)
- Best time tomorrow 4:10–4:50 am average day · 6/10
- Beach day 9:00 am–2:00 pm Fair beach day · 6/10
- Waves · water 2.6 ft · 73 °F slight · 10.1 s from the west
- Wind · air 4 mph · 65 °F from the NNW, gusts 6 · overcast
- Sun 7:16 am–6:09 pm 10 h 54 min of daylight
- Moon 91% · 8:03 pm waning gibbous · rises at 8:03 pm
- Diving tomorrow 10:30 am–12:40 pm good day · 8/10
- Coastal Flood Advisory: minor flooding along the shore at high tide. Until Fri 30, 2:00 pm. NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Today in Santa Barbara there is high tide at 10:54 am (6.6 ft) and low tides at 4:27 am and 6:27 pm. Tide coefficient 83. Right now the tide is rising toward the high tide at 1:06 am. The sun rises at 7:16 am and sets at 6:09 pm: 10 h 54 min of daylight. The moon is 91% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 8:03 pm. Major solunar periods run from 1:41 am to 3:41 am and from 2:13 pm to 4:13 pm. The next spring tides arrive from October 26 to 28. The sea is slight, with 2.6 ft waves. There's a light breeze from the north-northwest (4 mph). Overcast, 65 °F.
Fishing in Santa Barbara today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: medium- Low tide at 6:27 pm
- Sunset at 6:09 pm, golden hour from 5:34 pm
- Steady pressure (29.91 inHg), light onshore wind (4 mph) and some swell (2.6 ft waves) to stir the water
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
- Highest tide coefficient today: 83 (average tides)
Your day at a glance
The best window, 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm, combines the 6:27 pm low tide, sunset, a light onshore breeze and some swell. Also good from 9:50 am to 10:50 am, with the 10:54 am high tide, moonset and some swell.
Species with the most records nearby: kelp bass, white seabass, barred sand bass and California halibut. October is one of the months when these are seen most: white seabass and yellowtail amberjack. What you can catch
Beach day in Santa Barbara
Is it a beach day?
3 good hoursRip current risk today: low · tomorrow: low (NWS)
Rip currents can still form near jetties, piers and reefs: swim near a lifeguard.
- Mostly sunny
- Feels like 75 °F: mild
- Onshore breeze (6 mph)
- Calm for swimming: 2.7 ft waves
- UV 4 (moderate): SPF 30 sunscreen
- Water at 72 °F (nice)
Today, hour by hour
- Swimming Calm · 2.7 ft
2.7 ft waves: calm for swimming. Always follow the lifeguard's flags.
- Water 73 °F
Nice for swimming.
- Sun & sunscreen UV 4 · SPF 30
Max UV 4 (moderate): SPF 30 sunscreen, reapplied every 2 hours.
- Wind 7 mph
Onshore breeze (7 mph).
- Tide & sand 4:27 am
Low tide at 4:27 am and 6:27 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 10:54 am.
The best window, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, brings sunshine, little wind, a calm sea and water at 72 °F. 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm can also work, with little wind, a calm sea and water at 73 °F, though with clouds.
We don't have data on jellyfish, sargassum or beach closures: ask the lifeguard or check with the local beach authority. How it works · The next 7 days
Beaches near Santa Barbara
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- West Beach 0.9 mi · SE
- Restrooms
- Parking
- Leadbetter Beach 1.3 mi · S
- Lifeguard
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Parking
- East Beach 1.4 mi · E
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Parking
- Hendrys Beach 2.7 mi · SW
- Arroyo Burro Beach 2.9 mi · SW
- Restrooms
- Parking
- Butterfly Beach 3.7 mi · E
- Restrooms
- Parking
- Hope Ranch Private Beach 4.5 mi · W
- More Mesa Nude Beach 5.2 mi · W
- Clothing-optional area
Water quality: check the official beach advisories for California (California State Water Resources Control Board).
Named beaches within 6.2 mi, nearest first. Amenities from OpenStreetMap: some may be missing or out of date. View on OpenStreetMap · Add or fix on OpenStreetMap
Beaches and amenities: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Webcams near Santa Barbara
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Tides in Santa Barbara
Today's high and low tides
- ▼ Low tide 4:27 am 2.3 ft
- ▲ High tide 10:54 am 6.6 ft · coef. 83
- ▼ Low tide 6:27 pm -0.7 ft
↑ Rising The tide is rising. 5 h 11 min to high tide at 1:06 am.
Tide coefficient 83 for the 10:54 am high tide. Average coefficient. The water rises and falls 7.3 ft between the highest high and the lowest low: a large range for this place. 70 is an average tide here; 90 and above means spring tides; below 45, neap tides. What is the tide coefficient?
2026 extremes: the highest tide of the year is on July 13 (7.2 ft) and the lowest, on January 3 (-2.0 ft).
Mixed: two high and two low tides a day, but of quite different heights.
Heights above mean lower low water (MLLW), the zero of US nautical charts. Astronomical prediction: wind and air pressure can raise or lower the water by a few inches, and more in a storm. Not for navigation. MLLW
Tide coefficient and range in October
The biggest tides of the month came from October 8 to 9 (coefficient 99, 5.4 ft range). The smallest, on October 17 (coefficient 26, 3.7 ft).
Tide and solunar table · this week
| Day | Sun | Tide 1 | Tide 2 | Tide 3 | Tide 4 | Coef. | Moon | Major periods | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today, Wed 28 | 7:16 am · 6:09 pm | Low tide 4:27 am · 2.3 ft | High tide 10:54 am · 6.6 ft | Low tide 6:27 pm · -0.7 ft | — | Coef. 83 | 91% | Major periods 1:41 am · 2:13 pm | Medium |
| Thu 29 | 7:16 am · 6:08 pm | High tide 1:06 am · 3.6 ft | Low tide 5:07 am · 2.6 ft | High tide 11:41 am · 6.4 ft | Low tide 7:28 pm · -0.6 ft | Coef. 77 | 83% | Major periods 2:46 am · 3:18 pm | Medium |
| Fri 30 | 7:17 am · 6:07 pm | High tide 2:24 am · 3.5 ft | Low tide 5:59 am · 2.9 ft | High tide 12:38 pm · 6.0 ft | Low tide 8:36 pm · -0.3 ft | Coef. 66 | 73% | Major periods 3:50 am · 4:21 pm | Medium |
| Sat 31 | 7:18 am · 6:06 pm | High tide 3:55 am · 3.6 ft | Low tide 7:19 am · 3.2 ft | High tide 1:49 pm · 5.5 ft | Low tide 9:50 pm · -0.2 ft | Coef. 57 | 62% | Major periods 4:52 am · 5:21 pm | Medium |
| Sun 1 | 6:19 am · 5:05 pm | High tide 4:10 am · 3.9 ft | Low tide 8:18 am · 3.2 ft | High tide 2:17 pm · 5.1 ft | Low tide 9:57 pm · 0.0 ft | Coef. 57 | Last quarter | Major periods 4:49 am · 5:16 pm | Medium |
| Mon 2 | 6:20 am · 5:04 pm | High tide 4:59 am · 4.3 ft | Low tide 10:13 am · 2.7 ft | High tide 3:49 pm · 4.8 ft | Low tide 10:52 pm · 0.2 ft | Coef. 65 | 39% | Major periods 5:41 am · 6:06 pm | Medium |
| Tue 3 | 6:21 am · 5:03 pm | High tide 5:37 am · 4.7 ft | Low tide 11:27 am · 2.0 ft | High tide 5:06 pm · 4.6 ft | Low tide 11:38 pm · 0.4 ft | Coef. 75 | 29% | Major periods 6:30 am · 6:53 pm | Medium |
▲ high tide · ▼ low tide · heights above MLLW. Major periods: start time; they last 2 hours. Activity: based on the moon phase and the solunar periods.
Where this tide comes from
Tides from the Santa Barbara station (NOAA), 1.2 mi from Santa Barbara. Times and heights are its predictions.
Station data attribution: Slackwater database (https://github.com/openwatersio/slackwater-database)
The sea at Santa Barbara
Sea stateSea state: slight
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common1.3 ft
- Significant2.6 ft
- Highest expectedHighest5.1 ft
One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 5.1 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 5.1 ft.
Wind on the coast and offshore
Cross-offshore wind. The coast faces southwest and the wind comes off the land at an angle: calmer water near the shore, and bait and boats drift out to sea.
Wave height, next 7 daysWaves, next 7 days
Waves build over the next few days. The biggest waves arrive on Sunday 1: 5.2 ft with a period of 7 s, from the west (moderate).
Water temperature
Water temperature →Water temperature changes how fish behave: in very cold or very warm water they feed less. The water is steady these days, with no sudden changes.
Water warmer than normal for late October (+9.1 °F).
Satellite: NASA MUR (JPL MUR MEaSUREs, PO.DAAC), doi:10.5067/GHGMR-4FJ04. Sources and licenses
Water temperature →Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 7:55 pm (local time).
Nearest marine station
This is a real measurement of the sea, not a forecast. Data from station NTBC1, NOAA National Data Buoy Center (public domain).
Surf in Santa Barbara today
Surf today
Poor- 1.4–2.2 ft surf at the shore, a fun size for most surfers
- 2.4 ft swell at 6 s from the west, short: weak, messy waves
- Light offshore wind (5 mph): it holds up and grooms the waves
- Rising tide (high tide at 10:54 am)
Rip current risk today: low · tomorrow: low (NWS)
Rip currents can still form near jetties, piers and reefs: swim near a lifeguard.
Surf height from the NWS, today: 1.0–3.0 ft
- Light: First light 6:50 am · sunrise 7:16 am · sunset 6:09 pm · last light 6:35 pm
- Tide: low 4:27 am (2.3 ft), high 10:54 am (6.6 ft) and low 6:27 pm (-0.7 ft). Every break has its own tide: some work at low tide and others at high tide. The tide doesn’t change the score here.
- Water at 72.3 °F: a rash guard or a neoprene top.
- Energy: 37 kJ · Low power
Today’s surf at a glance
The best window, 8:00 am to 12:00 pm, has light offshore wind, though with a short-period swell. 6:00 pm to 6:35 pm can also work, with glassy water, though with a short-period swell.
An estimate for this stretch of coast, not for a specific break: every beach or reef works its own way (its tide, bottom and angle). Check it when you get there.
Diving in Santa Barbara today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: good- 2.1 ft swell at 6 s from the west: some surge on the bottom
- Light onshore wind (4 mph)
- 0.4 mph current toward the north-northwest, weak (model)
- Daylight
- Slack water today: high tide 11:58 pm (11:30 pm–12:30 am), low tide 4:27 am (3:50–5:00 am), high tide 10:54 am (10:30–11:10 am) and low tide 6:27 pm (6:10–6:50 pm)
- Likely visibility: good. Swell (up to 3.2 ft at 6 s) over the last few days has stirred up the water. Based on the last 24 hours of data.
- Water at 72.3 °F: a 3 mm wetsuit.
- Snorkeling: doable, with some waves or wind.
- Night dive: dark from 6:35 pm. Waning gibbous (91%), rising at 8:03 pm: a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 5:30 pm to 6:10 pm, combines light wind and weak current. Also worth a look from 10:10 am to 11:30 am, with slack water at high tide, light wind and the sun high, though with current.
Slack water comes from the tide: in inlets, channels and between islands the water can keep running for an hour or two after. Ask the local dive shop.
Never dive alone and check with the local dive shop: this rating is a guide, not a substitute for a professional.
Dive sites, wrecks and dive shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Wreck 1.3 mi
- Wreck 2.1 mi
- Wreck 2.2 mi
- Wreck 2.7 mi
- Campus Point State Marine Conservation Area 10 mi
- Blue Water Hunter Dive Shop 1.2 mi
- Santa Barbara Aquatics 7.4 mi
Within 12 mi. Some may be missing or closed; marine reserves usually need a permit. Open the map on OpenStreetMap · Missing one? Add it to OpenStreetMap
Wreck and reef positions are approximate and not for navigation; a wreck’s depth runs from the top of the hull to the seabed.
Sites: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). US wrecks: NOAA electronic navigational charts (ENC), a U.S. Government work; not for navigation.
Weather in Santa Barbara
Now in Santa Barbara
- Low / high
- 60 / 73 °F
- Rain
- 0.00 in · 1%
- Clouds
- 100%
- Humidity
- 71%
- Dew pointDew point
- 55 °F
- Visibility
- 14 mi
- UV indexUV
- 0 · low
- Air qualityAir
- Good · 43
- Saharan dust
- No
Pressure and fishing
- ↗ RisingRising · now Anglers say fish bite less for a while
- → SteadySteady Anglers expect normal activity
- ↘ FallingFalling Anglers say fish feed more before the change
Rising now (+0.03 inHg in 3 hours). It barely changes over the next 48 hours. Rising pressure: anglers say fish bite less for a while. Fast changes, either way, tend to affect fishing.
Today, hour by hourHour by hour
Bars: mean wind. Dashed line: gusts. Arrows point where the wind blows to.
| Time | 12:00 am | 3:00 am | 6:00 am | 9:00 am | 12:00 pm | 3:00 pm | 6:00 pm | 9:00 pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sky | Overcast | Mainly clear | Partly cloudy | Mainly clear | Mainly clear | Overcast | Overcast | Overcast |
| Temperature | 62° | 62° | 60° | 66° | 72° | 73° | 68° | 64° |
| Wind (mph) | 3 ENE | 4 NNE | 6 NE | 5 NE | 3 SSE | 6 SSW | 4 WSW | 4 NNW |
| Gusts | 5 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
| Waves | 3.3 ft | 2.9 ft | 2.8 ft | 2.7 ft | 2.7 ft | 2.7 ft | 2.6 ft | 2.6 ft |
| Rain | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in |
- 9:00 pm 64° 4 NNW 2.6 ft
- 12:00 am 62° 4 NNE 2.5 ft
- 3:00 am 64° 5 ENE 2.4 ft
- 6:00 am 64° 5 ENE 2.4 ft
- 9:00 am 68° 6 ENE 2.4 ft
- 12:00 pm 68° 9 SE 2.4 ft
- 3:00 pm 69° 7 S 2.4 ft
- 6:00 pm 66° 3 W 2.3 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave | High tides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 28 | 60 / 73 °F | 7 mph NNE | 3.3 ft | 10:54 am | |
| Thu 29 | 62 / 70 °F | 9 mph ESE | 2.5 ft | 1:06 am · 11:41 am | |
| Fri 30 | 61 / 68 °F | 12 mph SSE | 2.2 ft | 2:24 am · 12:38 pm | |
| Sat 31 | 61 / 64 °F | 12 mph SE | 2.3 ft | 3:55 am · 1:49 pm | |
| Sun 1 | 58 / 69 °F | 11 mph NW | 5.2 ft | 4:10 am · 2:17 pm | |
| Mon 2 | 55 / 71 °F | 7 mph N | 3.7 ft | 4:59 am · 3:49 pm | |
| Tue 3 | 58 / 71 °F | 7 mph WNW | 2.7 ft | 5:37 am · 5:06 pm | |
| Wed 4 | 58 / 70 °F | 9 mph WNW | 3.0 ft | 6:10 am · 6:12 pm | |
| Thu 5 | 58 / 70 °F | 7 mph WNW | 3.4 ft | 6:40 am · 7:11 pm | |
| Fri 6 | 57 / 69 °F | 8 mph NW | 7.9 ft | 7:10 am · 8:03 pm | |
| Sat 7 | 57 / 69 °F | 6 mph NW | 7.7 ft | 7:37 am · 8:51 pm | |
| Sun 8 | 57 / 80 °F | 6 mph NE | 5.1 ft | 8:04 am · 9:37 pm | |
| Mon 9 | 59 / 82 °F | 2 mph NW | 5.3 ft | 8:31 am · 10:24 pm | |
| Tue 10 | 60 / 84 °F | 3 mph NW | 4.7 ft | 8:58 am · 11:14 pm |
- Thu 29 Light drizzle 62° / 70° 2.5 ft
- Fri 30 Light drizzle 61° / 68° 2.2 ft
- Sat 31 Heavy drizzle 61° / 64° 2.3 ft
- Sun 1 Light drizzle 58° / 69° 5.2 ft
- Mon 2 Partly cloudy 55° / 71° 3.7 ft
- Tue 3 Clear sky 58° / 71° 2.7 ft
- Wed 4 Clear sky 58° / 70° 3.0 ft
Each day comes from the best model covering this spot: regional ones first (HRRR and NBM in the U.S., AROME, ICON-EU), then ECMWF; day 16, NOAA GFS. Waves: Météo-France up to day 10, then ECMWF WAM, coarser and further offshore. High tides: our own tide calculation.
- The models They don't agree · low confidence: unsure about rain on Friday 30. See the models →
- Outlook Next few weeks, compared with normal: a bit warmer and a bit wetter. See the outlook →
- Normal Today, normal highs for late October (73 °F). Climate by month →
Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 7:55 pm (local time).
The sun in Santa Barbara
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 6:20 am
- Full dark 7:04 pm
- Civil dawn 6:50 am
- Civil dusk 6:35 pm
- Solar noon 12:43 pm (42° high)
- Daylight 10 h 54 min (−2 min)
- Evening golden hour 5:34 pm
- Full dark 7:04 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,351,746 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in Santa Barbara
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,426 mi away and looks 32′ 47″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: medium- 1:41–3:41 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 2:13–4:13 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 9:51–10:51 am Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 7:33–8:33 pm Minor · moonrise · medium activity
According to solunar theory, fish feed more when the moon passes overhead or underfoot (major periods, about 2 h) and when it rises or sets (minor periods, 1 h). It works best around new and full moon.
Upcoming moon phases
2026 moon calendar →- Last quarter Sun, Nov 1 · 12:29 pmNov 1 in 4 days
- New moon Sun, Nov 8 · 11:03 pmNov 8 in 11 days
- First quarter Tue, Nov 17 · 3:48 amNov 17 in 20 days
- Full moon Tue, Nov 24 · 6:54 amNov 24 in 27 days
Perigee on October 28, 226,426 mi away, coinciding with the spring tides from October 26 to 28: they will be stronger than usual.
Where to fish in Santa Barbara
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Goleta Pier 7.4 mi
- Jetty 1.2 mi
- Jetty 1.2 mi
- Boat ramp 0.9 mi
- Boat ramp 7.3 mi
- Santa Barbara Harbor 1.1 mi
- Stearns Wharf Bait and Tackle 1.1 mi
Within 9.3 mi. A spot may be missing or closed. Open the map on OpenStreetMap · Missing one? Add it to OpenStreetMap
Spots: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps.
Water depth
Deepens quicklyThe bottom deepens quickly: 33 ft of water 1,100 ft from shore. It reaches 164 ft at 1.1 mi.
From the shoreline (1.9 mi from Santa Barbara) out to sea, heading southwest.
How far from shore
- 16 ft deep450 ft
- 33 ft deep1,100 ft
- 66 ft deep0.5 mi
- 164 ft deep1.1 mi
For fishing, swimming and diving
- Shore fishing. Deep water close in: about 11 ft just 330 ft out. Good for casting from rocks, jetties or the beach itself; current and surf hit harder here.
- Swimming. The bottom drops quickly near the shore and you are soon out of your depth. Keep an eye on kids and weak swimmers.
- Diving. Shore diving works here: 33 ft at 1,100 ft and 66 ft at 0.5 mi from shore.
Source: NOAA Southern California Coastal Relief Model (public domain), cells of about 100 ft; depth below mean sea level. For reference only: not for navigation or anchoring.
Nearest lighthouse
Santa Barbara Light 2.2 mi southwest
- Light
- A white flash every 10 s · Fl W 10s
- Light height
- 148 ft above sea level
- Tower height
- 24 ft
- Built
- 1856
Data from Wikidata. For reference only: not for navigation. Wikipedia · Wikidata · Sources and licenses
Tides near Santa BarbaraTides nearby
- Stearns Wharf1.0 mi
- Montecito3.9 mi
- Summerland5.8 mi
- Goleta7.5 mi
- Toro Canyon7.5 mi
- Isla Vista9.3 mi
- Carpinteria10 mi
- La Conchita15 mi
- Ventura25 mi
- Channel Islands Beach33 mi
Santa Barbara at a glance
- Town or city of about 91,842 people. Coordinates: 34.421° N, 119.698° W.
- It is 187 mi northwest of San Diego, the main place in California. The sun rises 12 min later and sets 8 min later than in San Diego.
- The nearest tide station, Santa Barbara, is 1.2 mi to the south.
- Its coast faces southwest.
- Beaches and harbors nearby: West Beach (0.9 mi), Stearns Wharf (1.0 mi), Stearns Wharf Vintners (1.1 mi), Leadbetter Beach (1.4 mi).
Questions about Santa BarbaraQuestions
What time is high tide today in Santa Barbara?
Today in Santa Barbara there is high tide at 10:54 am (6.6 ft) and low tides at 4:27 am and 6:27 pm. Tide coefficient 83.
What time is sunset today in Santa Barbara?
At 6:09 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 6:35 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in Santa Barbara?
At 7:16 am. First light comes at 6:21 am.
What phase is the moon today?
Waning gibbous, 91% illuminated. New moon on Sun, Nov 8 · 11:03 pm.
When are the next spring tides?
From October 26 to 28, together with the lunar perigee: they will be stronger than usual.
What are today's solunar periods?
Major 1:41–3:41 am, Minor 9:51–10:51 am, Major 2:13–4:13 pm, Minor 7:33–8:33 pm. Today's activity is medium.
What's the weather like today in Santa Barbara?
Overcast, from 60 °F to 73 °F, with a light breeze from the north-northwest (4 mph) and a 1% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in Santa Barbara?
Slight (Douglas 3): 2.6 ft waves with a period of 10.1 s from the west. The water is 72.5 °F.
When is the best time to visit Santa Barbara?
The best time to visit Santa Barbara is from May to September: highs of 71 °F to 78 °F, barely 1 rainy day a month and 9 hours of sunshine a day.
Can I use this data for navigation?
No. These are predictions for fishing and leisure; for navigation, use the official publications.
Where this data comes from
Tide: NOAA station Santa Barbara (public domain), via Slackwater database. Sun and moon: our own calculation with astronomy-engine. Places: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Coastline: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).