2.1ft Hs
SSW from · 192° · 13.7 s
CALIFORNIA / JalamaSPOT / 480
Tarantulas.
Reef
Left-dominant34.493° N / 120.489° W
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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 face3.0 ftForecast for Thu Oct 22, 6:00pm Pacific
Coastal wind4.5 mphN from · older cache
NOAA tide reference—MLLW · not loaded
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 Oct 22, 6:00pm Pacific
GFS · 4 components
3.1ft Hs
WSW from · 258° · 4.9 s
1.4ft Hs
WNW from · 299° · 9.1 s
1.2ft Hs
WNW from · 298° · 11.3 s
MFWAM · 2 components
2.8ft Hs
W from · 261° · 8.9 s
0.7ft Hs
WNW from · 292° · 2.4 s
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 Oct 22, 5:15pm · older cache. This is regional modeled wind, not a beach measurement.
Source retrievals: GFS Oct 22, 5:45pm · ECMWF Oct 22, 5:45pm · MFWAM Oct 22, 5:45pm. Retrieval time is not the model issue time. This page combines all available cached model families; map model selections are separate.
Seven-day overview
| Pacific day | Estimated surf face | Mean wind | Hours available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu Oct 22 | 3.3 ft | 8.1 mph | 14/14 |
| Fri Oct 23 | 4.6 ft | 13.6 mph | 14/14 |
| Sat Oct 24 | 4.5 ft | 6.6 mph | 14/14 |
| Sun Oct 25 | 2.9 ft | 7.0 mph | 14/14 |
| Mon Oct 26 | 2.7 ft | 9.6 mph | 14/14 |
| Tue Oct 27 | 4.0 ft | 10.9 mph | 14/14 |
| Wed Oct 28 | 3.8 ft | 9.1 mph | 14/14 |
Hourly details · next 72 hours
| Pacific time | Estimated surf face | Model range | Set proxy | Swell from | Wind | Tide MLLW | Models |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 6:00pm | 3.0 ft | 2.8–3.2 ft | 4.6 ft | WSW · 8.8 s | 4.5 mph N | — | 3 |
| Thu 7:00pm | 3.1 ft | 2.8–3.4 ft | 4.7 ft | WSW · 8.5 s | 11.8 mph NW | — | 3 |
| Thu 8:00pm | 3.2 ft | 2.7–3.5 ft | 4.8 ft | WSW · 8.3 s | 11.7 mph NW | — | 3 |
| Thu 9:00pm | 3.3 ft | 2.7–3.6 ft | 4.9 ft | WSW · 9.2 s | 9.6 mph NW | — | 3 |
| Thu 10:00pm | 3.5 ft | 3.2–3.7 ft | 5.3 ft | W · 8.3 s | 10.7 mph NNW | — | 3 |
| Thu 11:00pm | 3.7 ft | 3.5–3.8 ft | 5.5 ft | WSW · 9.0 s | 10.8 mph NW | — | 3 |
| Fri 12:00am | 3.7 ft | 3.4–4.0 ft | 5.6 ft | WSW · 8.9 s | 9.6 mph NNW | — | 3 |
| Fri 1:00am | 3.7 ft | 3.3–4.1 ft | 5.6 ft | W · 8.8 s | 14.9 mph NW | — | 3 |
| Fri 2:00am | 3.8 ft | 3.1–4.2 ft | 5.6 ft | W · 8.7 s | 14.0 mph NW | — | 3 |
| Fri 3:00am | 3.8 ft | 3.1–4.3 ft | 5.7 ft | W · 8.5 s | 12.9 mph NNW | — | 3 |
| Fri 4:00am | 3.4 ft | 1.7–4.4 ft | 5.0 ft | W · 8.4 s | 12.3 mph NNW | — | 3 |
| Fri 5:00am | 3.8 ft | 3.1–4.3 ft | 5.7 ft | W · 8.3 s | 10.2 mph NNW | — | 3 |
| Fri 6:00am | 3.3 ft | 1.5–4.3 ft | 4.9 ft | W · 8.3 s | 9.0 mph NNW | — | 3 |
| Fri 7:00am | 4.0 ft | 3.5–4.4 ft | 6.0 ft | W · 8.3 s | 13.4 mph NNW | — | 3 |
| Fri 8:00am | 4.3 ft | 4.0–4.6 ft | 6.5 ft | W · 8.4 s | 14.1 mph NNW | — | 3 |
| Fri 9:00am | 4.4 ft | 4.1–4.7 ft | 6.6 ft | W · 8.4 s | 13.7 mph NW | — | 3 |
| Fri 10:00am | 4.4 ft | 4.1–4.8 ft | 6.6 ft | W · 8.4 s | 12.6 mph NW | — | 3 |
| Fri 11:00am | 4.4 ft | 4.0–4.8 ft | 6.6 ft | W · 8.5 s | 13.6 mph NW | — | 3 |
| Fri 12:00pm | 4.4 ft | 4.0–4.9 ft | 6.7 ft | WNW · 8.5 s | 12.5 mph NNW | — | 3 |
| Fri 1:00pm | 4.4 ft | 4.0–4.9 ft | 6.7 ft | WNW · 8.6 s | 14.5 mph NNW | — | 3 |
| Fri 2:00pm | 4.5 ft | 4.1–4.9 ft | 6.7 ft | WNW · 8.6 s | 14.5 mph NNW | — | 3 |
| Fri 3:00pm | 4.7 ft | 4.3–5.2 ft | 7.1 ft | WNW · 8.5 s | 13.5 mph NW | — | 3 |
| Fri 4:00pm | 5.0 ft | 4.7–5.4 ft | 7.5 ft | WNW · 8.3 s | 14.7 mph NW | — | 3 |
| Fri 5:00pm | 5.3 ft | 4.9–5.7 ft | 7.9 ft | WNW · 8.3 s | 14.8 mph NW | — | 3 |
| Fri 6:00pm | 5.4 ft | 5.1–5.8 ft | 8.1 ft | WNW · 8.3 s | 14.9 mph NNW | — | 3 |
| Fri 7:00pm | 5.4 ft | 5.1–5.8 ft | 8.1 ft | WNW · 8.4 s | 14.1 mph NNW | — | 3 |
| Fri 8:00pm | 5.2 ft | 5.1–5.3 ft | 7.8 ft | WNW · 8.4 s | 14.9 mph NNW | — | 3 |
| Fri 9:00pm | 5.1 ft | 5.1–5.3 ft | 7.7 ft | WNW · 8.5 s | 14.7 mph N | — | 3 |
| Fri 10:00pm | 5.1 ft | 5.0–5.2 ft | 7.7 ft | WNW · 8.7 s | 10.2 mph NNE | — | 3 |
| Fri 11:00pm | 5.3 ft | 5.2–5.4 ft | 7.9 ft | NW · 9.5 s | 17.0 mph NNE | — | 3 |
| Sat 12:00am | 5.2 ft | 5.1–5.3 ft | 7.8 ft | NW · 9.7 s | 15.0 mph NNE | — | 3 |
| Sat 1:00am | 5.2 ft | 5.1–5.2 ft | 7.7 ft | NW · 9.9 s | 12.7 mph NNE | — | 3 |
| Sat 2:00am | 5.0 ft | 4.9–5.1 ft | 7.6 ft | WNW · 7.2 s | 11.6 mph NNE | — | 3 |
| Sat 3:00am | 5.0 ft | 4.9–5.1 ft | 7.5 ft | WNW · 7.2 s | 11.8 mph NE | — | 3 |
| Sat 4:00am | 4.9 ft | 4.8–5.0 ft | 7.4 ft | WNW · 7.3 s | 12.0 mph NE | — | 3 |
| Sat 5:00am | 4.9 ft | 4.7–5.0 ft | 7.3 ft | WNW · 7.4 s | 11.3 mph NE | — | 3 |
| Sat 6:00am | 4.8 ft | 4.6–5.0 ft | 7.2 ft | WNW · 7.4 s | 10.3 mph NE | — | 3 |
| Sat 7:00am | 4.7 ft | 4.5–4.9 ft | 7.1 ft | WNW · 9.5 s | 9.3 mph NNE | — | 3 |
| Sat 8:00am | 4.7 ft | 4.4–4.8 ft | 7.0 ft | WNW · 9.5 s | 8.2 mph NNE | — | 3 |
| Sat 9:00am | 4.6 ft | 4.3–4.7 ft | 6.9 ft | WNW · 9.5 s | 3.3 mph N | — | 3 |
| Sat 10:00am | 4.5 ft | 4.2–4.7 ft | 6.8 ft | WNW · 9.5 s | 1.6 mph SSE | — | 3 |
| Sat 11:00am | 4.5 ft | 4.1–4.7 ft | 6.7 ft | WNW · 9.4 s | 2.4 mph WSW | — | 3 |
| Sat 12:00pm | 4.4 ft | 4.0–4.6 ft | 6.6 ft | WNW · 9.4 s | 3.6 mph WSW | — | 3 |
| Sat 1:00pm | 4.5 ft | 3.9–5.1 ft | 6.8 ft | WNW · 9.4 s | 4.7 mph WSW | — | 3 |
| Sat 2:00pm | 4.3 ft | 3.9–4.5 ft | 6.4 ft | WNW · 9.2 s | 5.8 mph W | — | 3 |
| Sat 3:00pm | 4.4 ft | 4.0–5.0 ft | 6.7 ft | WNW · 9.3 s | 7.7 mph W | — | 3 |
| Sat 4:00pm | 4.5 ft | 4.3–4.9 ft | 6.7 ft | WNW · 9.3 s | 8.8 mph WNW | — | 3 |
| Sat 5:00pm | 4.3 ft | 3.9–4.8 ft | 6.4 ft | WNW · 9.3 s | 9.2 mph NW | — | 3 |
| Sat 6:00pm | 4.3 ft | 4.0–4.7 ft | 6.4 ft | WNW · 9.3 s | 8.8 mph NNW | — | 3 |
| Sat 7:00pm | 4.2 ft | 3.9–4.5 ft | 6.3 ft | WNW · 9.4 s | 8.8 mph NNW | — | 3 |
| Sat 8:00pm | 3.9 ft | 3.5–4.4 ft | 5.9 ft | WNW · 9.4 s | 8.5 mph N | — | 3 |
| Sat 9:00pm | 4.0 ft | 3.8–4.3 ft | 6.0 ft | WNW · 9.5 s | 8.1 mph N | — | 3 |
| Sat 10:00pm | 3.7 ft | 3.1–4.2 ft | 5.6 ft | WNW · 9.6 s | 8.4 mph N | — | 3 |
| Sat 11:00pm | 4.0 ft | 3.6–4.1 ft | 5.9 ft | WNW · 10.6 s | 8.6 mph N | — | 3 |
| Sun 12:00am | 3.8 ft | 3.5–4.0 ft | 5.7 ft | WNW · 9.7 s | 8.7 mph NNW | — | 3 |
| Sun 1:00am | 3.7 ft | 3.5–3.9 ft | 5.6 ft | WNW · 9.7 s | 8.7 mph N | — | 3 |
| Sun 2:00am | 3.5 ft | 3.3–3.8 ft | 5.3 ft | WNW · 9.7 s | 7.8 mph N | — | 3 |
| Sun 3:00am | 3.5 ft | 3.3–3.8 ft | 5.2 ft | WNW · 9.7 s | 7.8 mph N | — | 3 |
| Sun 4:00am | 3.3 ft | 3.0–3.6 ft | 5.0 ft | W · 9.7 s | 8.1 mph N | — | 3 |
| Sun 5:00am | 3.2 ft | 2.9–3.5 ft | 4.8 ft | W · 9.8 s | 8.4 mph N | — | 3 |
| Sun 6:00am | 3.2 ft | 2.9–3.4 ft | 4.8 ft | W · 9.8 s | 8.3 mph N | — | 3 |
| Sun 7:00am | 3.1 ft | 2.8–3.4 ft | 4.7 ft | W · 9.8 s | 7.6 mph N | — | 3 |
| Sun 8:00am | 3.3 ft | 3.1–3.5 ft | 5.0 ft | WNW · 10.2 s | 7.2 mph NNE | — | 3 |
| Sun 9:00am | 3.0 ft | 2.8–3.2 ft | 4.6 ft | W · 9.9 s | 3.9 mph N | — | 3 |
| Sun 10:00am | 3.0 ft | 2.7–3.2 ft | 4.5 ft | W · 9.9 s | 2.7 mph NNW | — | 3 |
| Sun 11:00am | 2.9 ft | 2.6–3.1 ft | 4.4 ft | W · 9.9 s | 2.2 mph NW | — | 3 |
| Sun 12:00pm | 2.9 ft | 2.5–3.1 ft | 4.3 ft | W · 9.9 s | 3.0 mph WNW | — | 3 |
| Sun 1:00pm | 2.9 ft | 2.5–3.2 ft | 4.3 ft | W · 9.9 s | 6.0 mph W | — | 3 |
| Sun 2:00pm | 2.8 ft | 2.4–3.2 ft | 4.2 ft | W · 10.0 s | 8.0 mph WNW | — | 3 |
| Sun 3:00pm | 2.8 ft | 2.4–3.1 ft | 4.1 ft | W · 10.0 s | 9.6 mph WNW | — | 3 |
| Sun 4:00pm | 2.7 ft | 2.3–3.0 ft | 4.1 ft | W · 10.0 s | 11.9 mph NW | — | 3 |
| Sun 5:00pm | 2.7 ft | 2.4–3.0 ft | 4.1 ft | W · 10.0 s | 10.7 mph NNW | — | 3 |
| Sun 6:00pm | 2.6 ft | 2.3–3.0 ft | 3.9 ft | W · 10.0 s | 8.7 mph NNW | — | 3 |
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
Jalama’s serious southern reef, best known for a fast, hollow left and the ability to hold real winter energy.
Also known as T’s · South Jalama.
- Break type
- Reef
- Wave direction
- Left-dominant
- Reported difficulty
- Advanced–expert
- Bottom
- Rock / reef
- Reported swell preference
- W–NW in winter; SW can work
- Reported tide preference
- Low–mid; section dependent
The left is the prize, with a shorter right possible on some angles. It is substantially more consequential than the campground peaks.
Before paddling out: Heavy surf, shallow reef, strong current, isolation, sharks, long walk, cliff pinch points and rapidly worsening wind.
Long shoreline walk south from Jalama; verify tide and conditions Approximate named reef pin
Source references
- Mondo — Jalama surf guide ↗
- Gaviota Coast Conservancy — On the Road to Jalama ↗
- Surf-Forecast — Tarantulas ↗
Provenance is not proof that every inherited claim or current access condition has been rechecked.
THE FIELD GUIDE / Tarantulas
Read this stretch of coast.
Follow the swell window
The catalogue’s reported preference for Tarantulas is “W–NW in winter; SW can work”. 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; section dependent. 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: Rock / reef. Reported difficulty: Advanced–expert. 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
Jalama Beach ↗
Jalama Beach Store / Surfline · about 1.8 km from the catalogue pin · video-page
Beach and surf view published by the campground store.
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
4.27–4.53 ftSignificant 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.