Surf Forecasts:
El Balneario surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 7s period, W swell with 138 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 1.2m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Balneario over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, crew, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: the next couple of weeks are looking pretty flat and tough. We’ve got a long stretch ahead with hardly anything worth paddling out for, so don't get your hopes up. The swell just isn’t there, and when there is a bump, the wind’s usually wrecking it. It’s going to be a real test of patience.
For the first few days, there’s just nothing on the table. We’re talking the 18th and 19th of August with waves around 1ft, and that’s if you can even call them waves. It’s pretty heartbreaking. The water is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, sitting at 70.2°F, so you'll want a warmer suit if you do decide to get wet.
We’re looking at a full week of this, through to about the 24th. There’s a little pulse of energy on the 24th and 25th, but the swell stays tiny, only hitting 3ft at best, with short, weak 6-second periods. Not exactly going to get the heart rate up. There is a clean window on the morning of the 25th with some light offshore wind, which is nice, but the swell just isn't there to make it worth the paddle.
We then have another few days of small, wind-affected slop. On the 28th, there’s a morning with moderate offshore wind and a bit of 8-second period swell, but it's still only 1.5ft. The energy is weak, registering just 33 in the water. This looks more like a fun day for a kite than a proper surf.
The only glimmer of hope, and I mean the sole standout in this entire 16-day window, is on the 30th of August. It’s still not big, with a 1.5ft swell from the W, but it’s got a clean 8-second period and the morning has light, cross-offshore wind creating clean conditions at El Balneario. It’s the only time in this whole forecast where things might actually line up. After that, the wind swings back onshore and the swell dies again as we head into September. It’s a long, flat grind. Stay patient, keep the board in the car, and maybe this will be the calm before a proper storm later in the month.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Thu morning. Warm (max 26°C on Tue afternoon, min 21°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Fri afternoon, min 20°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WSW 3 | WSW 4 | W 4 | W 5 | WNW 9 | W 6 | W 6 | W 5 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | WNW 6 | W 6 | W 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 14 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 18 | 25 | 47 | 35 | 18 | 51 | 34 | 56 | 70 | 34 | 13 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | glassy | on | on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 7:39PM1.12m | 8:02AM1.03m | 8:24PM1.01m | 8:55AM0.94m | 9:25PM0.92m | 10:14AM0.88m | 10:58PM0.88m | 11:55AM0.88m | 00:31AM0.91m | 1:10PM0.95m | 1:32AM0.98m | 1:59PM1.03m | 2:15AM1.06m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:26PM0.28m | 1:53AM0.32m | 2:10PM0.38m | 2:41AM0.42m | 3:07PM0.47m | 3:50AM0.49m | 4:34PM0.53m | 5:27AM0.51m | 6:14PM0.51m | 6:51AM0.46m | 7:23PM0.45m | 7:45AM0.39m | 8:09PM0.36m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:41 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:08 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:05 | — | — | 9:04 | — | — | 9:02 | — | — | 9:00 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 26 | 23 | 23 | 26 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 22 |
Feels °C | 30 | 28 | 26 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 22 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 5 | W 11 | W 10 | WNW 8 | — | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 6 | — | W 5 |
| kJ | 19 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 14 | — | 6 | 6 | 70 | — | 13 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | E 5 | E 5 | W 10 | — | — | — | — | WNW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 |
| kJ | 14 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 8 | W 3 | — | W 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 4 | W 2 | W 3 | W 4 | WSW 3 | WSW 4 | W 4 | W 5 | — | W 6 | W 6 | W 5 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | — | W 6 | W 5 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 18 | — | 47 | 35 | 18 | 51 | 34 | 56 | — | 34 | 9 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 228 | 228 | 321 | 247 | 320 | 418 | 301 | 321 | 137 | 181 | 745 | 486 | 137 | 253 | 181 | 181 | 695 | 137 | 137 | 354 | 82 |
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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