Surf Forecasts:
El Balneario surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 5s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 9s period, W swell with 244 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 5s period with WNW 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at El Balneario in the next 16 days are 1.2m 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Balneario over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Imperial Version
Alright, Rusty checkin’ in. The water’s a bit nippy for this part of the year, sittin’ at about 70°, a couple degrees colder than usual – you’ll be glad for a wetsuit.
Honestly, the next week and a half is a tough one for us. The truth is, for the first ten days, the surf is flat. We’re talking tiny, weak dribbles that won’t get you a ride. The best you could hope for is a late-morning float on a foamie. The wind is mostly onshore and cross-onshore, just messing up what little bump there is. The combined wave energy is stuck in the low teens to double digits, which is weak to moderate at best, but the quality is just junk.
The first real glimmer of hope shows up on Saturday, August 29th. The morning sees a bit of a pulse – a 3ft swell from the WNW, with a period of 6 seconds. The real story here is the wind: a clean offshore breeze from the ENE at 9 mph. That’ll keep the surface glassy. The water’s still a bit cold, but it’ll be surfable, and the crowd here is ‘sometimes’, so you might find a peak to yourself. The combined energy is a weak 56, but it’s the best we’ve seen in days.
After that, we’re back to the waiting game. The rest of the period into the second week stays tiny, with periods under 7 seconds and wind switching from offshore to onshore. The energy drops to single digits. It’s not going to be a classic run. For a beginner-friendly spot like El Balneario, this is a long, quiet spell. The forecasts can change, but right now it’s a lot of sitting and watching the horizon.
If you’re desperate, the Saturday morning (August 29th) is your only real window. Otherwise, give it a rest.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Mon afternoon, min 19°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Fri afternoon, min 19°C on Fri morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Thu afternoon, calm by Fri night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 9 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 4 | W 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | WNW 12 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 16 | 93 | 154 | 224 | 136 | 105 | 103 | 28 | 17 | 45 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 43 | 37 | 28 | 56 | 20 | 15 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 1:32AM0.98m | 1:59PM1.03m | 2:15AM1.06m | 2:37PM1.12m | 2:51AM1.14m | 3:09PM1.21m | 3:24AM1.21m | 3:40PM1.28m | 3:55AM1.27m | 4:10PM1.33m | 4:26AM1.30m | 4:41PM1.36m | 4:58AM1.32m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:23PM0.45m | 7:45AM0.39m | 8:09PM0.36m | 8:25AM0.30m | 8:46PM0.27m | 8:58AM0.22m | 9:19PM0.19m | 9:30AM0.15m | 9:50PM0.13m | 10:00AM0.10m | 10:21PM0.08m | 10:31AM0.07m | 10:52PM0.05m | |||||||
 |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:48 | — | — | 7:48 | — | — | 7:48 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — |
 | — | 9:02 | — | — | 9:00 | — | — | 9:00 | — | 8:59 | — | — | 8:57 | — | — | 8:55 | — | — | 8:54 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 26 | 24 | 23 | 26 | 25 |
Feels °C | 24 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 13 | WNW 11 | W 10 | — | W 8 | W 8 | E 6 | W 7 | WNW 7 | W 10 | WNW 6 | W 6 | E 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 |
| kJ | 63 | 93 | 154 | — | 136 | 105 | 1 | 28 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 43 | 6 | 28 | 56 | 20 | 15 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | W 14 | — | — | E 6 | E 6 | — | — | W 10 | — | W 9 | W 9 | — | WNW 8 | — | W 11 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | NW 11 | W 12 |
| kJ | 16 | 16 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | — | 7 | — | 2 | 26 | 12 | 5 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 6 | E 7 | — | — | — | — | — | E 7 | E 6 | — |
| kJ | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 9 | — | — | W 8 | W 4 | W 5 | W 7 | W 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 4 | W 5 | — | WNW 5 | — | — | — | ENE 3 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 224 | — | — | 103 | 10 | 12 | 45 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 17 | — | 37 | — | — | — | 3 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 40 | 646 | 100 | 272 | 36 | 36 | 210 | 137 | 137 | 247 | 186 | 278 | 303 | 316 | 207 | 203 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 791 |
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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