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PURESURFERSLIVE SURF ATLAS
CALIFORNIA / UCSB / Isla VistaSPOT / 758

Sig Ep Beach / El Embarcadero.

Windswell beachbreak

Left & right34.408° N / 119.854° W
Color satellite and aerial imagery centered on the approximate Sig Ep Beach / El Embarcadero catalogue locationSATELLITE / N ↑
Satellite / aerial view · centred on the approximate catalogue pin. Not live imagery.
Powered by Esri · Esri, Vantor, Earthstar Geographics, and the GIS User Community.
CLOSE-UP / N ↑
OPEN THE LIVE ATLAS ↗
Approximate catalogue pin · check the actual shoreline. © OpenStreetMap contributors
Open Sig Ep Beach / El Embarcadero on the map ↗Best surf near me

Forecast & tide at a glance

Estimated surf face · feet · Pacific time. The existing PureSurfers face-estimation engine; not a measured or calibrated breaking-wave report.

Estimated surf face2.0 ftOlder cached forecast Thu Nov 12, 1:00pm Pacific
Coastal wind8.2 mphSSW from · older cache
NOAA tide reference3.9 ftMLLW · Santa Barbara

READ THE INDIVIDUAL SWELLS

Swell by swell.

Offshore component height (Hs), not surf-face height. Directions are where waves come from. Component heights do not add together.

Thu Nov 12, 1:00pm Pacific

GFS · 4 components
Primary swell
2.4ft Hs

W from · 272° · 10.7 s

2.4 feet
Wind sea
0.5ft Hs

SE from · 144° · 1.8 s

0.5 feet
Secondary swell
0.6ft Hs

SW from · 222° · 13.0 s

0.6 feet
Tertiary swell
0.4ft Hs

W from · 269° · 16.7 s

0.4 feet
MFWAM · 2 components
Primary swell
5.2ft Hs

W from · 280° · 10.9 s

5.2 feet
Wind sea
0.0ft Hs

No energy reported for this component

0.0 feet

Each model supplies its own partitions. Missing components remain unavailable; another model’s primary swell is not automatically the same wave system.

Coastal wind retrieved Thu Nov 12, 10:41am · older cache. This is regional modeled wind, not a beach measurement.

Source retrievals: GFS Nov 12, 11:30am (older cache) · ECMWF Nov 12, 11:30am (older cache) · MFWAM Nov 12, 10:37am (older cache). Retrieval time is not the model issue time. This page combines all available cached model families; map model selections are separate.

Tide predictions: Santa Barbara, 15 km reference; retrieved Thu Nov 12, 7:00am. Station predictions can differ locally.

Seven-day overview

06:00–19:00 forecast hours; daily values are not a full-day maximum.
Pacific dayEstimated surf faceMean windHours available
Thu Nov 122.0 ft5.9 mph14/14
Fri Nov 132.7 ft7.5 mph14/14
Sat Nov 144.5 ft4.3 mph14/14
Sun Nov 152.7 ft4.4 mph14/14
Mon Nov 163.5 ft5.7 mph14/14
Tue Nov 172.8 ft8.3 mph14/14
Wed Nov 181.7 ft7.2 mph14/14
Hourly details · next 72 hours
Pacific timeEstimated surf faceModel rangeSet proxySwell fromWindTide MLLWModels
Thu 1:00pm2.0 ft1.1–2.5 ft3.0 ftW · 10.9 s8.2 mph SSW3.9 ft3
Thu 2:00pm2.0 ft1.1–2.5 ft3.1 ftW · 11.0 s6.8 mph SW2.8 ft3
Thu 3:00pm2.1 ft1.1–2.6 ft3.1 ftWNW · 12.8 s6.0 mph SSW1.7 ft3
Thu 4:00pm2.1 ft1.0–2.6 ft3.1 ftWNW · 12.9 s4.5 mph SSW0.8 ft3
Thu 5:00pm2.2 ft1.1–2.7 ft3.2 ftW · 11.3 s4.4 mph SSW0.2 ft3
Thu 6:00pm2.3 ft1.4–2.7 ft3.4 ftW · 11.5 s5.6 mph SSW0.0 ft3
Thu 7:00pm2.3 ft1.5–2.8 ft3.5 ftW · 11.6 s4.3 mph S0.3 ft3
Thu 8:00pm2.5 ft1.7–2.9 ft3.7 ftW · 11.7 s5.6 mph S0.8 ft3
Thu 9:00pm2.3 ft1.2–2.9 ft3.5 ftW · 11.7 s6.6 mph E1.6 ft3
Thu 10:00pm2.4 ft1.2–3.0 ft3.6 ftW · 11.7 s7.7 mph E2.3 ft3
Thu 11:00pm2.4 ft1.2–3.0 ft3.6 ftW · 11.7 s8.7 mph ESE2.9 ft3
Fri 12:00am2.5 ft1.3–3.1 ft3.7 ftW · 13.2 s9.4 mph SE3.2 ft3
Fri 1:00am2.5 ft1.3–3.1 ft3.8 ftW · 13.0 s10.5 mph E3.4 ft3
Fri 2:00am2.5 ft1.3–3.2 ft3.8 ftW · 12.9 s4.7 mph ENE3.3 ft3
Fri 3:00am2.6 ft1.4–3.2 ft3.8 ftW · 12.8 s4.0 mph SE3.2 ft3
Fri 4:00am2.7 ft1.7–3.3 ft4.1 ftW · 12.8 s4.7 mph SE3.2 ft3
Fri 5:00am2.7 ft1.7–3.3 ft4.1 ftW · 12.6 s5.9 mph E3.3 ft3
Fri 6:00am2.8 ft1.9–3.3 ft4.1 ftW · 12.4 s6.2 mph ENE3.5 ft3
Fri 7:00am2.7 ft1.9–3.3 ft4.1 ftW · 12.3 s7.7 mph ENE4.0 ft3
Fri 8:00am2.7 ft1.9–3.3 ft4.1 ftW · 12.2 s5.5 mph NNE4.5 ft3
Fri 9:00am2.7 ft2.0–3.2 ft4.1 ftW · 12.3 s7.5 mph NE4.9 ft3
Fri 10:00am2.7 ft2.0–3.2 ft4.1 ftW · 12.3 s7.5 mph ENE5.2 ft3
Fri 11:00am2.7 ft2.0–3.2 ft4.1 ftW · 12.3 s4.8 mph NNE5.2 ft3
Fri 12:00pm2.7 ft2.0–3.2 ft4.1 ftW · 12.3 s8.1 mph WSW4.9 ft3
Fri 1:00pm2.7 ft2.0–3.2 ft4.1 ftW · 12.2 s10.1 mph WSW4.3 ft3
Fri 2:00pm2.7 ft2.0–3.2 ft4.1 ftW · 12.0 s10.0 mph W3.4 ft3
Fri 3:00pm2.7 ft2.1–3.2 ft4.1 ftW · 11.6 s8.8 mph W2.5 ft3
Fri 4:00pm2.7 ft2.0–3.2 ft4.0 ftW · 11.2 s6.3 mph W1.5 ft3
Fri 5:00pm2.7 ft2.0–3.2 ft4.0 ftW · 10.9 s6.1 mph WNW0.8 ft3
Fri 6:00pm2.8 ft2.0–3.2 ft4.1 ftW · 10.5 s8.4 mph WNW0.3 ft3
Fri 7:00pm2.8 ft1.9–3.2 ft4.2 ftW · 10.3 s7.4 mph WNW0.3 ft3
Fri 8:00pm2.9 ft2.1–3.4 ft4.4 ftW · 10.3 s7.9 mph WNW0.5 ft3
Fri 9:00pm3.0 ft2.0–3.5 ft4.4 ftW · 10.3 s5.7 mph NNE1.1 ft3
Fri 10:00pm3.0 ft1.9–3.7 ft4.6 ftW · 10.4 s4.0 mph SSW1.7 ft3
Fri 11:00pm3.1 ft2.0–3.7 ft4.7 ftW · 10.6 s5.2 mph WSW2.3 ft3
Sat 12:00am3.1 ft1.9–3.8 ft4.6 ftW · 10.9 s16.6 mph NNW2.9 ft3
Sat 1:00am3.2 ft2.0–3.9 ft4.7 ftW · 11.2 s16.2 mph N3.2 ft3
Sat 2:00am3.3 ft2.0–4.1 ft4.9 ftW · 11.6 s8.7 mph WNW3.4 ft3
Sat 3:00am3.4 ft2.1–4.2 ft5.1 ftW · 11.9 s7.7 mph WNW3.4 ft3
Sat 4:00am3.8 ft2.2–4.7 ft5.6 ftW · 13.1 s6.5 mph NNW3.3 ft3
Sat 5:00am3.8 ft2.4–4.5 ft5.7 ftW · 12.8 s5.4 mph NNW3.3 ft3
Sat 6:00am4.0 ft2.5–4.8 ft6.0 ftW · 13.4 s5.5 mph NNW3.5 ft3
Sat 7:00am4.2 ft2.6–5.0 ft6.3 ftW · 11.9 s5.2 mph N3.7 ft3
Sat 8:00am4.3 ft2.8–5.1 ft6.5 ftW · 14.2 s4.1 mph N4.0 ft3
Sat 9:00am4.4 ft2.9–5.3 ft6.6 ftWNW · 14.5 s2.6 mph NNW4.4 ft3
Sat 10:00am4.5 ft3.1–5.5 ft6.8 ftWNW · 14.8 s2.4 mph WNW4.7 ft3
Sat 11:00am4.6 ft3.1–5.6 ft6.9 ftWNW · 14.9 s3.7 mph WSW4.9 ft3
Sat 12:00pm4.6 ft3.1–5.6 ft6.9 ftWNW · 14.9 s5.0 mph WSW4.8 ft3
Sat 1:00pm4.6 ft3.0–5.7 ft7.0 ftWNW · 14.8 s5.7 mph SW4.5 ft3
Sat 2:00pm4.6 ft3.0–5.7 ft7.0 ftWNW · 14.8 s5.5 mph SSW3.9 ft3
Sat 3:00pm4.6 ft2.9–5.7 ft6.9 ftWNW · 14.6 s5.2 mph S3.1 ft3
Sat 4:00pm4.6 ft2.9–5.8 ft6.9 ftWNW · 14.5 s4.3 mph SSE2.3 ft3
Sat 5:00pm4.5 ft2.9–5.7 ft6.8 ftWNW · 14.4 s2.1 mph ESE1.5 ft3
Sat 6:00pm4.5 ft2.9–5.6 ft6.7 ftWNW · 14.3 s4.3 mph N0.9 ft3
Sat 7:00pm4.6 ft2.9–5.5 ft6.9 ftWNW · 14.2 s4.5 mph N0.5 ft3
Sat 8:00pm4.5 ft2.8–5.4 ft6.8 ftWNW · 14.1 s4.3 mph N0.5 ft3
Sat 9:00pm4.4 ft2.7–5.3 ft6.6 ftW · 14.0 s4.4 mph NNE0.7 ft3
Sat 10:00pm4.3 ft2.6–5.2 ft6.4 ftW · 14.0 s4.4 mph NE1.2 ft3
Sat 11:00pm4.2 ft2.6–5.0 ft6.2 ftW · 13.9 s5.1 mph ENE1.8 ft3
Sun 12:00am3.9 ft2.5–4.7 ft5.9 ftW · 13.7 s5.3 mph ESE2.4 ft3
Sun 1:00am3.7 ft2.4–4.5 ft5.6 ftW · 13.6 s5.4 mph ESE2.9 ft3
Sun 2:00am3.6 ft2.3–4.4 ft5.4 ftW · 13.5 s5.4 mph E3.3 ft3
Sun 3:00am3.5 ft2.2–4.3 ft5.3 ftW · 13.4 s4.5 mph ENE3.5 ft3
Sun 4:00am3.4 ft2.2–4.1 ft5.1 ftW · 13.3 s5.4 mph ENE3.5 ft3
Sun 5:00am3.3 ft2.1–4.0 ft4.9 ftW · 13.2 s5.2 mph ENE3.5 ft3
Sun 6:00am3.2 ft2.1–3.9 ft4.8 ftW · 13.0 s5.4 mph ENE3.5 ft3
Sun 7:00am3.1 ft2.0–3.8 ft4.6 ftW · 12.9 s5.6 mph ENE3.5 ft3
Sun 8:00am3.0 ft1.9–3.6 ft4.5 ftW · 12.7 s5.8 mph E3.7 ft3
Sun 9:00am2.9 ft1.9–3.6 ft4.3 ftW · 12.6 s6.2 mph ESE3.9 ft3
Sun 10:00am2.8 ft1.8–3.4 ft4.2 ftW · 12.4 s6.0 mph SE4.2 ft3
Sun 11:00am2.7 ft1.8–3.4 ft4.1 ftW · 12.3 s4.6 mph SSE4.4 ft3
Sun 12:00pm2.7 ft1.7–3.3 ft4.0 ftW · 12.1 s4.7 mph S4.5 ft3
Sun 1:00pm2.6 ft1.7–3.2 ft3.9 ftW · 12.0 s4.6 mph SSW4.4 ft3

Model spread is not a confidence interval. Tide and wind are context, not new corrections to surf size. Larger sets and changing hazards remain possible.

This page reads the shared cache first. Refresh requests only this spot’s existing regional samples.

Know the spot

The old Sig Ep beachbreak at the foot of El Embarcadero—distinct from Depressions and remembered for spring windswells.

Also known as Seg Ep Beach · El Embarcadero Beachbreak.

Break type
Windswell beachbreak
Wave direction
Left & right
Reported difficulty
Intermediate
Bottom
Sand over bedrock
Reported swell preference
Spring W–WNW windswell
Reported tide preference
Low–mid; narrow beach at high tide

Early UCSB surfers used the fraternity-derived Sig Ep name. The productive sand/bedrock mix changed after the 1964 storm, so the useful peak still moves with sand and tide.

Before paddling out: Bluff/stair access, submerged bedrock, narrow beach at tide, crowds and runoff.

El Embarcadero public beach access Approximate beach-zone pin

Source references

Provenance is not proof that every inherited claim or current access condition has been rechecked.

THE FIELD GUIDE / Sig Ep Beach / El Embarcadero

Read this stretch of coast.

Follow the swell window

The catalogue’s reported preference for Sig Ep Beach / El Embarcadero is “Spring W–WNW windswell”. Compare that description with each component’s incoming direction and period. An offshore swell number is a reference; the local wave still depends on the actual shoreline, bottom and tide.

Check the water level

Reported tide preference: Low–mid; narrow beach at high tide. Follow the named NOAA station and its trend through your intended session, then inspect the entry and exit at the beach. A station prediction is not a water-level sensor at this takeoff.

Read the bottom and the lineup

Catalogue bottom: Sand over bedrock. Reported difficulty: Intermediate. Watch several sets before choosing where to enter, keep clear of riders, and compare the actual wave with your ability and equipment.

A useful note for next time

Record the section you actually surfed, the time, incoming swell direction and period, wind and tide trend. Add what the wave did: connected sections, closeouts, drift or exposed obstacles. Comparing that observation with the same model next time is more useful than treating one colored number as the whole session.

Camera references nearby

Campus Point ↗

The Surfers View · about 0.9 km from the catalogue pin · video-page

Publicly listed Campus Point surf view.

Links to third-party camera pages, not owned feeds. Proximity does not confirm the camera sees this break. Playback and image freshness have not been verified by this page.

Make the next session easier

Lineup etiquette · Paddling technique · How these forecasts work

Nearby spots to compare

PureSurfers is built by Peter Ochabski. Spot profiles combine retained sources and contributor observations; this is not a claim he has surfed or verified every entry.

COASTAL WAVE GUIDANCE

Waves at the model cells

Awaiting shared model data

Significant wave height (Hs) before the legacy spot reduction. This is not a measured breaking-face or set range.

Nearshore and buoy trends load here. Coverage and observation times are shown separately.