
Surf Forecasts:
El Balneario surf forecast from 7 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 7 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 15s period, WNW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 8 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 12s period, WNW swell with 109 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 7 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 15s 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 Monday (Sep 07) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 15s 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 0.6m 12s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 13) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Balneario over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty.
Let’s talk about what’s cooking. Look, I gotta be straight with you, the next couple of weeks are looking pretty flat for the most part. The only spot in the game here is El Balneario, and it’s going to be a real test of patience. We’ve got a long stretch of mostly small, weak, or just messy surf, but there are a couple of narrow windows that might be worth a look if you’re desperate for a paddle.
We start off this week, Monday the 7th, with a tiny 1ft WNW groundswell rolling in, with a long 15-second period. The water is a very unusual 67°, which is a whopping 6° colder than normal for this time of year, so grab the thickest wetsuit you’ve got. The wind is blowing offshore from the East at 12 mph, which keeps the surface clean, but the combined energy is only weak (71). It’s there, but it’s not going to blow your mind. By Monday afternoon it drops right off.
Tuesday the 8th morning is actually the best of the bunch for the early part of the window. The swell bumps up just a touch to 2ft from the WNW, a solid 11-second period, and the wind goes completely glassy with a light WSW breeze at 3 mph. That is pure bliss for the conditions on offer. The combined energy is still weak (93), but for a spot that’s exposed to a WSW swell, those clean conditions could make for a few fun, small waves. It’s a beginner-friendly break, but the inconsistency and tiny size means you’ll be sitting waiting a lot. After that, from Tuesday noon all the way through to Thursday the 17th, it’s a long, long stretch of junk. We see onshore winds, tiny swells, and high winds, with the combined energy often dropping below 50. The 18th of September is the next standout to get on your radar. Friday morning the 18th sees a 3ft Westerly swell with a short 8-second period and onshore wind, so it’s a write-off. But then Friday afternoon? The wind goes completely glassy, dead calm. The swell drops to 3ft, but the period comes up to 9 seconds from the WNW, and the combined energy jumps into the moderate range (170). That’s the best looking window in the whole run. Clean, manageable waves for a beginner break. Don’t get excited about much else after that. The rest of the run into the 22nd is just tiny leftovers and strong offshore winds that make paddling out a mission for zero reward.
So, the standout effort here is undeniably Tuesday morning, September 8th. That glassy 2ft WNW swell is about as good as it’s going to get. The real highlight, the one to circle in your calendar, is Friday afternoon, September 18th. The glassy conditions and moderate energy (170) from a clean 3ft WNW swell is the best offer in this whole 16-day forecast. It’s a small window, but it’s the cleanest one.
That’s the story for now. It’s a lean period, so watch the forecasts closely.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Mon afternoon, min 21°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Thu afternoon, min 21°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ENE on Thu morning, strong winds from the E by Sat morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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 15 | WNW 7 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | W 10 | W 6 | W 6 | W 5 | W 7 | W 7 | WNW 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 9 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | E 6 | W 15 | W 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
71 | 10 | 81 | 93 | 83 | 68 | 49 | 43 | 13 | 47 | 28 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 5 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | glassy | on | on | on | on | on | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 1:03PM1.11m | 1:33AM1.14m | 1:59PM1.22m | 2:24AM1.24m | 2:45PM1.33m | 3:08AM1.32m | 3:25PM1.40m | 3:47AM1.37m | 4:02PM1.43m | 4:23AM1.38m | 4:38PM1.43m | 4:57AM1.36m | 5:12PM1.38m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:20PM0.27m | 7:45AM0.22m | 8:14PM0.16m | 8:33AM0.13m | 8:58PM0.06m | 9:14AM0.05m | 9:38PM0.00m | 9:52AM0.01m | 10:15PM-0.02m | 10:28AM0.01m | 10:50PM-0.01m | 11:03AM0.04m | 11:24PM0.04m | ||||||||
7:58 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | |
— | 8:42 | — | — | 8:39 | — | — | 8:38 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:36 | — | — | 8:35 | — | — | 8:32 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 |
Feels °C | 24 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 26 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 15 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 5 | W 7 | W 7 | WNW 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 |
71 | 69 | 81 | 93 | 83 | 68 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 47 | 28 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | W 9 | W 8 | W 11 | — | — | W 15 | W 15 |
5 | 10 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 4 | 5 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 11 | W 8 | — | — | — | — |
8 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 3 | E 3 | ENE 3 | — | — | — | W 6 | W 6 | W 5 | E 3 | E 5 | E 4 | E 5 | E 5 | E 5 | E 5 | E 5 | E 5 | E 6 | E 6 | E 5 |
5 | 8 | 3 | — | — | — | 49 | 43 | 13 | 5 | 67 | 41 | 64 | 100 | 66 | 83 | 104 | 143 | 152 | 204 | 121 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 219 | 48 | 40 | 246 | 588 | 0 | 40 | 71 | 149 | 149 | 94 | 100 | 246 | 94 | 94 | 228 | 94 |
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.










