Surf Forecasts:
El Balneario surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 21 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 9s period, W swell with 55 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for El Balneario this week:
The most powerful waves expected at El Balneario in the next 16 days are 0.6m 9s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Balneario over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here, and it’s flat as a pancake for El Balneario across the whole 16-day stretch. Not a single session with any quality surf on the cards – every wave comment is “poor surf conditions” from start to finish. Nothing stands out as a good day to paddle out. That’s just how this area gets sometimes; when the swell vanishes, it can stay gone for a while.
We’ve got tiny waves rolling in from the west and northwest, mostly 0.7ft to 2ft, with periods ranging from a messy 3-4 seconds up to 9 seconds here and there. The combined swell energy never leaves the weak zone (top reading is 34), so there’s no power behind it. Even the cleanest wind days can’t make up for that lack of swell.
The wind does give us a few tidy windows. On August 27th, a light easterly offshore at 6 mph in the morning, then a 12 mph cross-offshore easterly that afternoon. The 30th sees a light offshore easterly in the afternoon, and the 31st brings a fresh 22 mph easterly offshore. Conditions would be glassy, but the swell is barely there – 0.7ft at best. Not enough to get wet for.
El Balneario is an exposed beach that likes a WSW swell, and while those tiny pulses from the west do line up directionally, they’re just too small and weak. The water temperature is a chilly 70°F, which is a very unusual 4° colder than average for this time of year – you’ll feel that one through the wettie.
Bottom line: zero surf worth chasing in this 16-day run. It’s a tough spell, but forecasts shift, and it won’t stay like this forever. For now, don’t bother waxing up. Rusty, out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sun afternoon, min 21°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Wed afternoon, min 19°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | WNW 7 | W 6 | W 7 | W 7 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 4 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WSW 3 | WSW 4 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 29 | 18 | 10 | 16 | 8 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 16 | 16 | 37 | 20 | 11 | 22 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 6:22PM1.33m | 6:42AM1.22m | 6:59PM1.23m | 7:21AM1.13m | 7:39PM1.12m | 8:02AM1.03m | 8:24PM1.01m | 8:55AM0.94m | 9:25PM0.92m | 10:14AM0.88m | 10:58PM0.88m | 11:55AM0.88m | 00:31AM0.91m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:36AM0.12m | 12:48PM0.18m | 1:13AM0.21m | 1:26PM0.28m | 1:53AM0.32m | 2:10PM0.38m | 2:41AM0.42m | 3:07PM0.47m | 3:50AM0.49m | 4:34PM0.53m | 5:27AM0.51m | 6:14PM0.51m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — |
 | — | 9:10 | — | — | 9:09 | — | — | 9:08 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:05 | — | — | 9:04 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 24 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 |
Feels °C | 29 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | E 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | WNW 4 | W 8 | W 3 | W 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 |
| kJ | 29 | 15 | 56 | 43 | 32 | 19 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 16 | 16 | 37 | 20 | 11 | 22 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WNW 7 | W 6 | — | W 7 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 8 | E 6 | E 5 | W 8 | W 10 | — | — | — | W 13 | W 12 | W 11 | WNW 11 | W 10 |
| kJ | — | 18 | 10 | — | 8 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 8 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | W 10 | — | — | — | W 8 | W 10 | E 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 4 | — | — | W 7 | — | — | — | W 8 | W 4 | W 3 | — | W 4 | WSW 3 | WSW 4 | SW 3 | WSW 5 | W 5 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 9 | — | — | 16 | — | — | — | 11 | 3 | 2 | — | 3 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 9 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 250 | 94 | 74 | 94 | 318 | 228 | 308 | 646 | 247 | 300 | 318 | 300 | 318 | 181 | 181 | 253 | 558 | 100 | 250 | 800 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Andalucia | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Spain (Europe) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the El Balneario Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for El Balneario provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at El Balneario can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our El Balneario surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (El Balneario) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for El Balneario may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
El Balneario is 1 km (1 miles) from the city of Tarifa. If you plan a holiday in Andalucia, look for hotels and other accommodation in Tarifa. Tarifa has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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