Surf Forecasts:
El Balneario surf forecast from 13 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 17 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 7s period, W swell with 86 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 1.0m 7s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Monday (Jul 20) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Balneario over the next 16 days.
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve scanned the charts for the next 16 days, and I gotta be straight with you – it’s a pretty grim run for El Balneario. The whole period is a write-off for any decent surf. There’s nothing on offer that’s worth paddling out for. The combined swell energy is tiny, mostly hanging around in the weak range (30 or less), barely cracking 100 on a couple of afternoons, and even then it’s short-period, onshore slop. The water temperature is sitting at 70°, which is about average for this time of year, so you won’t get a thermal bonus, but you also won’t get a surprise.
The first week, from Monday the 13th through to the end of Sunday the 19th, is a total bust. The wind is mostly onshore from the west, and the swell is tiny, weak, and short-period. There’s a brief window on the morning of Thursday the 17th where the swell just touches 3 ft, but it’s coming from the west with a 6-second period and onshore winds – that’s not surf, that’s a washing machine. The combined energy hits 68, which is still weak. Nothing to see here.
The second week kicks off Monday the 20th with offshore winds finally arriving from the east, but the swell is next to nothing – think 0.7 ft or less. The water is glassy and clean, but there’s no wave to ride. That pattern of offshore winds and flat seas continues through to Friday the 24th. It’s beautiful for a beach walk, but not for surfing. The swell picks up a fraction on the 24th with a 1 ft, 9-second pulse from the west-northwest, but combined energy is only 16 – still totally marginal.
From Saturday the 25th, the wind swings back onshore from the west, and we get a bit more swell on Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th, with the swell hitting 3 ft and combined energy climbing to 136 (moderate). But the period is a short 7 seconds, and the wind is onshore or cross-onshore, making it choppy and messy. This is a beginner-level break, and while 3 ft is manageable, the quality is poor. It’s not worth the drive.
Bottom line: there are no good surf options in this 16-day window. For El Balneario, a blank run like this is more normal for the area, so don’t get too down. The forecasts can change, but right now, leave the board in the car.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Wed afternoon, min 19°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Fri night, min 21°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 5 | W 5 | WNW 7 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | W 6 | W 6 | W 5 | W 6 | W 6 | WNW 5 | W 7 | W 6 | E 3 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | E 4 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 30 | 39 | 9 | 12 | 7 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 46 | 30 | 19 | 68 | 38 | 14 | 57 | 18 | 0 | 16 | 10 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 3:06PM1.30m | 3:29AM1.32m | 3:56PM1.37m | 4:19AM1.35m | 4:43PM1.41m | 5:07AM1.36m | 5:29PM1.41m | 5:52AM1.32m | 6:14PM1.38m | 6:37AM1.27m | 6:58PM1.32m | 7:22AM1.19m | 7:42PM1.23m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:51AM0.11m | 9:18PM0.10m | 9:42AM0.05m | 10:09PM0.04m | 10:30AM0.02m | 10:57PM0.01m | 11:15AM0.02m | 11:44PM0.02m | 11:59AM0.05m | 00:29AM0.07m | 12:43PM0.12m | 1:15AM0.14m | 1:27PM0.20m | 2:00AM0.22m | |||||||
 | |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:15 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:39 | — | — | 9:39 | — | — | 9:38 | — | — | 9:38 | — | — | 9:37 | — | — | 9:37 | — | — | 9:37 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 31 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 26 | 27 | 24 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | E 5 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | WNW 7 | W 5 | WNW 10 | W 5 | W 6 | W 8 | W 5 | W 6 | — | WNW 5 | W 7 | W 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 |
| kJ | 30 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 14 | 9 | 16 | 46 | 5 | 19 | 68 | — | 14 | 57 | 18 | 5 | 16 | 10 | 5 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | — | E 6 | E 7 | E 7 | W 11 | WNW 10 | E 6 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 | — | — | W 8 | — | — | WNW 5 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | — | — | 5 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 12 | W 12 | E 6 | E 6 | — | W 7 | E 6 | E 5 | W 8 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 7 | W 4 | W 5 | W 5 | W 7 | — | W 5 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | E 3 | E 3 | E 4 | E 4 | E 4 |
| kJ | — | 39 | 5 | 12 | 7 | 14 | — | 13 | — | — | 30 | — | — | 38 | — | — | 7 | 11 | 18 | 41 | 37 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 71 | 246 | 792 | 228 | 447 | 313 | 278 | 362 | 791 | 354 | 246 | 82 | 36 | 246 | 1358 | 25 | 149 | 1320 | 100 | 149 | 850 |
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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