
Surf Forecasts:
El Balneario surf forecast from 9 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 9s period, W swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period, W swell with 105 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 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 0.6m 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 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) 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 0.4m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Balneario over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break it down. It’s gonna be a quiet stretch here at El Balneario. We’ve got a lot of small, weak swell and onshore wind for days on end. Nothing that gets you pumped.
The water temp is about 72°, which is just a hair below normal for this time of year – not a big deal.
Sunday morning kicks off with a 2ft west swell, a short 6-second period, and a weak energy reading of 36. The wind is onshore from the west at 6 mph, so it’s poor.
Monday and Tuesday don’t change much. Swell stays tiny, around 2ft to 3ft, same short-period west swell. Tuesday morning goes glassy, but there’s no real power.
Wednesday the 12th gives us a glimmer. Wind swings light east at 6 mph, offshore, but the swell is only 2ft from the west, still 6 seconds, energy at 18. It’s clean, but you’ll be searching for a wave.
Thursday the 13th is the first chance for a proper surf. Still small, 2ft from the west, but the period stretches to 9 seconds. Energy climbs to 61. Light east offshore keeps it clean. It’s “surfable but very ordinary,” but for this break, that’s the best we get.
Friday the 14th morning stays clean with light east offshores, swell at 2ft, 7 seconds, energy at 78. Friday afternoon goes glassy with a light east-southeast breeze, same size, period up to 8 seconds. That afternoon window is your top pick for the first week.
Then it goes dead. From Saturday the 15th through to Wednesday the 20th, it’s back to onshore westerlies, tiny swell under 3ft, and very weak energy. Not worth a paddle.
Thursday the 21st and Friday the 22nd stay poor.
There’s one more shot on Saturday the 23rd morning. A clean, glassy start with light east offshore wind, swell at 3ft from the west, 6 seconds, energy at 49. It’s “surfable but very ordinary,” but it’s the cleanest window in the second week.
If the swell had more size and the wind stayed cross-onshore, this would look better for kite surfing than for a paddle. But the waves just aren’t there.
The best of a quiet 16 days? Thursday the 13th afternoon’s glassy, clean 2ft west swell with the longer period, or Saturday the 23rd morning’s clean, glassy 3ft offering. Both are small and ordinary, but they’re clean, and for a beginner spot, that’s your window.
– Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Tue afternoon, min 21°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 23°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | |||||||||||||||
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 6 | W 5 | W 5 | W 6 | W 6 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | WNW 6 | W 6 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
36 | 21 | 12 | 52 | 21 | 23 | 28 | 19 | 12 | 18 | 20 | 29 | 61 | 59 | 40 | 51 | 64 | 46 | 105 | 64 | 46 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | on | on | on | glassy | on | glassy | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | glassy | glassy | on | on | on |
High Tide | 1:05PM1.10m | 1:34AM1.15m | 2:07PM1.20m | 2:32AM1.24m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:19PM0.29m | 7:51AM0.22m | 8:20PM0.18m | 8:45AM0.12m | 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 | ||||||||
7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | |
— | — | 9:19 | — | — | 9:17 | — | — | 9:16 | — | — | 9:15 | — | — | 9:15 | — | — | 9:14 | — | — | 9:13 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 24 |
Feels °C | 28 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 25 | 25 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | WNW 8 | W 5 | W 6 | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | WNW 6 | W 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | — | W 8 |
36 | 6 | 11 | 52 | 15 | 23 | 28 | 19 | 12 | 18 | 10 | 29 | 61 | 59 | 40 | 51 | 64 | 46 | 105 | — | 46 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WNW 7 | — | — | E 6 | E 5 | E 5 | W 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 5 | — | — | E 5 | WNW 9 | E 5 | E 5 | — | — | — |
— | — | 10 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 20 | 3 | — | — | 1 | 27 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | E 6 | — | W 11 | W 10 | E 5 | E 5 | — | — | — | — | — | E 5 | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 5 | W 5 | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | E 2 | E 3 | — | E 3 | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | — |
— | 21 | 12 | — | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 64 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 321 | 441 | 82 | 246 | 441 | 149 | 246 | 836 | 100 | 228 | 303 | 71 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 236 | 1117 | 648 |
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.











