Surf Forecasts:
El Balneario surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s period, W swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 7s period, W swell with 82 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s period with W swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for El Balneario this week:
The surf forecast for El Balneario over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 9s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at El Balneario in the next 16 days are 0.9m 7s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Balneario over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty. Let's get into it.
Alright, look, I’m gonna be straight with you. The next two weeks at El Balneario are a tough watch. We’ve got a long stretch of barely-anything coming our way, and honestly, there’s not a single day I’d be racing to get in the water. The first week and a half are mostly flat, and the few times the swell bumps up, the wind just ruins it.
The water is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, sitting at 71°F, so that’s a bit of a shock to the system if you’re not used to it.
The first real chance to paddle out comes on the 15th of August. It’s nothing to write home about, but Saturday morning and afternoon we get some clean, glassy conditions. The waves are small, just 2ft from the west with a period of 8 seconds. The combined swell energy is weak (48 to 50), so you’re looking at tiny, weak rollers. The wind is glassy in the morning and clean offshore in the afternoon, which is the only highlight. The break is fairly consistent, but crowds are possible here. It’s a beginner wave, so if you’re learning, this is your window.
After that, it’s back to onshore wind and poor surf. We get a bit of a wind shift on the 21st of August with a fresh offshore breeze, but the swell is still tiny and the energy is weak (15 to 34). Not worth the hassle.
The only other time the swell shows any life is on the 26th of August, with a 4ft swell from the WNW and a period of 7 seconds. The combined energy bumps up to moderate (113), but the wind is cross-onshore and choppy. That’s not a surfer’s wave – that’s a kite surfer’s setup. Too messy for a proper paddle.
So, yeah. The best of a bad bunch is the 15th of August. Small, clean, and for beginners. If you’re an experienced surfer, you’re better off waiting for the next forecast. It’s a dry spell, but it won’t last forever.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Wed afternoon, min 24°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Fri afternoon, min 21°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 18 | 12 | 10 | 20 | 29 | 44 | 61 | 42 | 40 | 39 | 24 | 64 | 51 | 34 | 82 | 39 | 16 | 11 | 17 | 15 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | glassy | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | glassy | glassy | on | on | on | on | cross-on | off | off |
High Tide | 2:58PM1.31m | 3:22AM1.32m | 3:44PM1.39m | 4:06AM1.37m | 4:26PM1.44m | 4:48AM1.38m | 5:06PM1.44m | 5:27AM1.35m | 5:45PM1.41m | 6:05AM1.30m | 6:22PM1.33m | 6:42AM1.22m | 6:59PM1.23m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:12PM0.08m | 9:31AM0.05m | 9:57PM0.01m | 10:14AM0.01m | 10:40PM-0.02m | 10:54AM-0.00m | 11:20PM-0.01m | 11:32AM0.03m | 11:58PM0.04m | 12:10PM0.09m | 00:36AM0.12m | 12:48PM0.18m | 1:13AM0.21m | |||||||
 |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | |  | |
 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — |
 | — | 9:16 | — | — | 9:15 | — | — | 9:15 | — | — | 9:14 | — | — | 9:13 | — | — | 9:10 | — | — | 9:09 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 29 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 26 | 25 |
Feels °C | 28 | 26 | 25 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | E 5 | W 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 |
| kJ | 18 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 29 | 44 | 61 | 42 | 40 | 39 | 24 | 64 | 51 | 34 | 82 | 2 | 16 | 11 | 17 | 15 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | W 10 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | W 5 | — | — | — | — | — | E 5 | E 5 | E 5 | E 5 | E 5 | — | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ENE 6 |
| kJ | 1 | 2 | 11 | 20 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | — | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | E 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 11 | — |
| kJ | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 5 | E 3 | E 3 | ENE 3 | E 4 | E 4 | E 3 | E 4 | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 2 | 11 | 8 | 4 | 28 | 10 | 5 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | 39 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 246 | 787 | 100 | 261 | 313 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 836 | 542 | 250 | 313 | 71 | 100 | 704 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Andalucia | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Spain (Europe) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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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