Marine forecast
East Santa Barbara Channel: Pt. Conception–Pt. Mugu
- current wind
- 7 kt SSW
- Gusts
- 8 kt
- Seas
- 4.6 ft
- Period
- 18 sec
- Air
- 68°F
Observed Tue 11:36 AM | PZZ650
- Gusts now
- 8 kt
- Seas now
- 4.6 ft · 18 sec
- Air
- 68°F
- 72-hr peak
- 14 kt
- Peak seas
- 4 ft
In brief
At 11:36 am PDT on Oct 13, 2026, NDBC station NTBC1 (Santa Barbara, CA, 16 miles away) measured wind from the SSW at 7 kt, gusting to 8 kt; buoy 46221 measured seas of 4.6 ft. The NWS forecast for East Santa Barbara Channel: Pt. Conception–Pt. Mugu, CA issued at 8:46 am PDT on Oct 13, 2026 reads, for today: “N wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming W 15 to 25 kt this afternoon. Strongest western portion.” A Small Craft Advisory is in effect until Tue 9:00 PM.
Source: National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard CA forecast; NDBC observations
Wind forecast · ktPeak 14 kt
Seas forecast · ftPeak 4 ft
Marine advisory
Small Craft Advisory in effect for East Santa Barbara Channel: Pt. Conception–Pt. Mugu until Tue 9:00 PM.
Full text of this small craft advisory
* WHAT...Hazardous sea conditions. * WHERE...East Santa Barbara Channel from Pt. Conception to Pt. Mugu CA including Santa Cruz Island. * WHEN...From 3 PM this afternoon to 9 PM PDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...See the Coastal Waters Forecast (CWFLOX) for more.
NWS marine forecast
| Period | Forecast |
|---|---|
| Today | N wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming W 15 to 25 kt this afternoon. Strongest western portion. Seas 2 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: NW 2 ft at 7 seconds, W 3 ft at 10 seconds and S 2 ft at 17 seconds. |
| Tonight | NW wind 10 to 20 kt with gusts to 25 kt in the evening, becoming N 5 to 10 kt. Seas 2 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: NW 3 ft at 7 seconds, W 2 ft at 11 seconds and S 2 ft at 17 seconds. |
| Wed | Light winds, becoming W 10 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at 8 seconds and S 2 ft at 15 seconds. |
| Wed Night | NW wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming N 5 to 10 kt after midnight. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave Detail: NW 2 ft at 6 seconds. |
| Thu | Eastern Portion, N to NE wind 10 to 20 kt. Western Portion, NW wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave Detail: NW 2 ft at 6 seconds and W 2 ft at 11 seconds. |
| Thu Night | Eastern Portion, NW wind 10 to 20 kt. Western Portion, NW wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave Detail: NW 2 ft at 6 seconds. |
| Fri | Eastern Portion, NE wind 20 to 30 kt. Western Portion, N wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave Detail: NW 2 ft at 6 seconds. |
| Fri Night | Eastern Portion, NE wind 15 to 25 kt. Western Portion, NW wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave Detail: NW 2 ft at 6 seconds. |
| Sat | Eastern Portion, N wind 10 to 20 kt. Western Portion, NW wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave Detail: NW 2 ft at 5 seconds. |
| Sat Night | NW wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming 5 to 10 kt after midnight. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at 5 seconds, W 2 ft at 9 seconds and SW 2 ft at 17 seconds. |
Issued Tue 8:46 AM by Los Angeles/Oxnard CA (product CWFLOX).
Recent buoy conditions
| Time | Wind | Gust | Seas | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 11:36 AM | 7 kt SSW | 8 kt | — | — |
| Tue 10:54 AM | 8 kt SW | 9 kt | — | — |
| Tue 9:54 AM | 3 kt S | 4 kt | — | — |
| Tue 8:54 AM | 1 kt E | 2 kt | — | — |
| Tue 7:54 AM | 1 kt NW | 2 kt | — | — |
| Tue 6:54 AM | 2 kt N | 3 kt | — | — |
| Tue 5:54 AM | 3 kt NNW | 3 kt | — | — |
| Tue 4:54 AM | 3 kt NNW | 4 kt | — | — |
| Tue 3:54 AM | 2 kt N | 3 kt | — | — |
| Tue 2:54 AM | 3 kt NNW | 5 kt | — | — |
| Tue 1:54 AM | 1 kt N | 2 kt | — | — |
| Tue 12:54 AM | 3 kt NNW | 3 kt | — | — |
Observed Tue 11:36 AM at NDBC buoy NTBC1 (Santa Barbara, CA), 16.2 miles away. Seas from buoy 46221 (Santa Monica Bay, CA (028)), 60.5 miles away, at Tue 11:56 AM.
Frequently asked questions
What is the marine forecast for East Santa Barbara Channel: Pt. Conception–Pt. Mugu today?
Today: N wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming W 15 to 25 kt this afternoon. Strongest western portion. Seas 2 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: NW 2 ft at 7 seconds, W 3 ft at 10 seconds and S 2 ft at 17 seconds.
Is there a small craft advisory for East Santa Barbara Channel: Pt. Conception–Pt. Mugu?
Yes — small craft advisory in effect until Tue 9:00 PM.
How high are the waves at East Santa Barbara Channel: Pt. Conception–Pt. Mugu right now?
Seas are running 4.6 ft at a 18-second period, measured at NDBC buoy NTBC1 Tue 11:36 AM, 16.2 miles from this zone. The forecast peaks at 4.0 ft Tue 5 PM.
What do the wind speeds in knots mean?
One knot is 1.15 mph. The National Weather Service issues a small craft advisory for sustained winds of roughly 22–33 knots or hazardous seas, a gale warning at 34–47 knots, and a storm warning at 48 knots and above. Exact advisory thresholds vary by forecast office and by water body — a bay reaches dangerous chop at a lower wind speed than open ocean.
Where does this forecast come from?
The forecast text is the National Weather Service's own marine bulletin for zone PZZ650, issued by Los Angeles/Oxnard CA, reproduced in full. The wind and seas charts are drawn from the NWS gridded forecast for a point inside the zone. Observations come from the nearest reporting NDBC buoy. We are not affiliated with NOAA or the National Weather Service.
Forecast: NOAA/NWS product CWFLOX, issued Tue 8:46 AM. Observations: NOAA National Data Buoy Center station NTBC1, read Tue 11:36 AM. Retrieved Oct 13, 12:42 PM. Conditions offshore change faster than any page can be rebuilt, so check the current NWS bulletin and your own instruments before going out.