Surf Forecasts:
El Balneario surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 17 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s period, W swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s period, W swell with 60 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 17 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s 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 (Sep 17) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 10s. 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 0.7m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.4m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 13) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Balneario over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it.
To be straight with you, the next sixteen days are shaping up to be a real test of patience. We’re looking at a long stretch where the ocean just doesn’t want to cooperate. For the most part, the swell is tiny and the wind is relentless, so we’re in for a waiting game. It’s not going to be pretty for a while.
The only spot on the radar is El Balneario. The first few days are a write-off. Friday the 11th and Saturday the 12th are tiny, but the wind is absolutely howling offshore at 22 to 28 mph. It’s clean, but it’s impossible to paddle into anything. The energy is weak too, in the single digits to low teens. There’s a brief let-up in the wind on the 15th, but there’s no swell at all, so it’s flat.
We finally see a pulse of energy towards the end of the week. Thursday the 17th sees a bump to 2ft, but the model calls it “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” The combined energy is only 48, which is still weak. It’s a glimmer, but nothing to get excited about.
From the 18th through to the 24th, we slide back into the doldrums. The offshore wind remains strong, often too strong to even paddle out, and the swell drops to nothing but tiny leftovers. The energy is consistently in the low single digits. This is a real dead period.
The end of the run, around the 25th and 26th, shows some flicker of life. We see the period jump up to 16 seconds on Friday the 25th, and the energy climbs to 21, and then on the 26th, it’s 34 with a 13-second period. But the swell height is still only 0.6ft to 1ft. It’s a long-period signal, but there is just not enough height to make it worth getting wet. It’s promising that there’s something moving out there, but it’s too far away and too small.
Honestly, it’s a dry spell. The conditions are all wind and no wave. For a stretch of over a week, there’s nothing on offer. It’s one of those times you just have to be patient. We need the wind to back off and the swell to fill in. For now, it’s a no-go.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Fri afternoon, min 21°C on Fri night). Mainly strong winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Tue afternoon, min 20°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the E on Mon afternoon, calm by Wed night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 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) | E 5 | W 9 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | E 7 | W 15 | W 13 | W 12 | E 6 | E 5 | E 4 | E 4 | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | W 7 | W 8 | W 6 | WNW 10 | W 7 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 38 | 60 | 28 | 20 | 4 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | on | on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 4:02PM1.43m | 4:23AM1.38m | 4:38PM1.43m | 4:57AM1.36m | 5:12PM1.38m | 5:31AM1.31m | 5:46PM1.31m | 6:04AM1.23m | 6:19PM1.21m | 6:38AM1.14m | 6:54PM1.10m | 7:15AM1.04m | 7:35PM1.00m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:15PM-0.02m | 10:28AM0.01m | 10:50PM-0.01m | 11:03AM0.04m | 11:24PM0.04m | 11:36AM0.10m | 11:56PM0.12m | 12:10PM0.18m | 00:30AM0.22m | 12:45PM0.28m | 1:05AM0.32m | 1:24PM0.38m | 1:48AM0.43m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:03 | — | — | 8:03 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — |
 | 8:36 | — | — | 8:35 | — | — | 8:32 | — | — | 8:31 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:27 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 25 | 23 |
Feels °C | 21 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 11 | W 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | W 7 | W 8 | W 6 | WNW 6 | W 7 |
| kJ | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 38 | 60 | 28 | 11 | 4 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 9 | W 11 | — | — | — | W 15 | W 13 | W 12 | — | — | — | — | — | E 5 | NW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 11 |
| kJ | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 5 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 11 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 11 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | E 5 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 5 | E 4 | E 4 | E 5 | — | — | — | E 3 | E 5 | E 7 |
| kJ | 81 | 117 | 222 | 292 | 366 | 492 | 507 | 346 | 214 | 185 | 68 | 19 | 18 | 4 | — | — | — | 8 | 66 | 226 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 149 | 321 | 149 | 79 | 313 | 94 | 94 | 318 | 94 | 94 | 94 | 71 | 303 | 1117 | 261 | 751 | 843 | 0 | 0 | 316 |
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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