Santa Barbara Coastal Plain and Terraces

El Niño swell pushes Santa Barbara tides higher

October 22, 2026

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Water levels in Santa Barbara ran 0.408 m above predicted levels on 2026-10-22, reflecting an ongoing Kelvin wave from the 2026 El Niño.^1, 2 The pulse has sustained elevated levels since late September, bringing 10 to 12 inches above 2025 baseline through early October and interacting with storm surge from Tropical Storm Rachel to push tides a foot or more above predictions.² This baseline surge will persist through the winter and amplify future storm impacts during king tide periods.¹

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