Surf Forecasts:
El Barco surf forecast from 21 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 14s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 22 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s period, SSE swell with 161 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 23 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period with SSE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for El Barco this week:
The surf forecast for El Barco over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 23) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 7s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at El Barco in the next 16 days are 1.5m 6s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 5s period and expected on Monday (Jul 27) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (-03) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Barco over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk about El Barco in feet and miles per hour. The next 16 days are a tough run. The first few days – Tuesday and Wednesday – are blown out with cross-onshore winds and small, weak swell. You’re looking at 3 to 5 ft but the wind is all wrong, making it choppy and messy. Not worth paddling out.
Then we get a little window of cleaner conditions starting Thursday morning, July 23. The wind swings to a light cross-offshore from the ENE, and the swell drops to 3 ft from the SSE, period 6 seconds. It’s small, but at least the surface is clean. The combined energy is weak (97). Still, it’s surfable if you’re desperate. Friday morning, July 24, is similar: 2 ft from the ESE, 8 seconds, cross-offshore breeze, clean. Energy is moderate (106). Again, nothing exciting.
The one morning that stands out as the best of the lot is Sunday, July 26. The wind goes glassy – dead calm from the north – and the swell is 2 ft from the east, 8 seconds. Combined energy is moderate (113). It’s small, but with glassy conditions you’ll get the cleanest little waves. The water temperature is 53°F, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year – about 2°F above average. So that’s a small comfort.
After that, things go back to poor. The winds pick up again, the swell fades, and by the end of July it’s mostly onshore junk. There’s a bump in swell around August 4 and 5 – 4 to 6 ft from the ESE with strong onshore winds, creating very poor conditions. The combined energy spikes to 504, but it’s all onshore and messy. That’s more for kite surfers than paddle surfers.
So, bottom line: no real standouts. The best you’ll get is that glassy Sunday morning, July 26, with tiny waves. If you’re desperate for a paddle, Thursday or Friday mornings might be worth a look, but keep your expectations low. Crowds are often here, but with this forecast, you’ll have the place to yourself.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu afternoon, min 10°C on Wed afternoon). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun afternoon, min 11°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 7 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | E 7 | ESE 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 14 | S 12 | S 12 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 91 | 61 | 58 | 108 | 161 | 122 | 55 | 44 | 62 | 67 | 87 | 148 | 113 | 71 | 99 | 69 | 48 | 44 | 31 | 35 | 34 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off |
High Tide | 1:10PM0.31m | 2:11AM0.21m | 5:56AM0.21m | 2:06PM0.31m | 3:26AM0.20m | 3:03PM0.31m | 4:35AM0.20m | 3:56PM0.31m | 5:26AM0.20m | 4:46PM0.32m | 6:08AM0.20m | 5:33PM0.32m | 6:45AM0.20m | 6:18PM0.32m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:32PM0.05m | 4:24AM0.20m | 10:26PM0.06m | 5:27AM0.20m | 11:21PM0.06m | 7:10AM0.19m | 00:16AM0.07m | 8:08AM0.19m | 1:10AM0.07m | 8:55AM0.18m | 2:00AM0.07m | 9:34AM0.17m | 2:47AM0.07m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  |  | |  | | |  | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — |
 | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — |
mm | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 17 |
Feels °C | 10 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 7 | SE 6 | S 6 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SE 11 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 8 | SSE 13 | ESE 6 | E 7 | E 8 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 |
| kJ | 91 | 61 | 35 | 13 | 13 | 5 | 55 | 29 | 62 | 67 | 56 | 39 | 34 | 58 | 99 | 69 | 48 | 44 | 31 | 35 | 34 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | S 6 | E 9 | — | — | S 10 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | S 8 | S 14 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | SSE 14 | SSE 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 12 |
| kJ | 21 | 18 | 6 | — | — | 2 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 25 | 12 | 148 | 113 | 71 | 21 | 36 | 29 | 22 | 9 | 9 | 11 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 8 | S 10 | — | — | SE 11 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | SE 10 | S 14 | — | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | — | S 15 | S 10 | — | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | — |
| kJ | 5 | 4 | 2 | — | — | 5 | 7 | 14 | 4 | 14 | — | 8 | 8 | — | 4 | 8 | — | 4 | 4 | 3 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 4 | — | ESE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | NE 2 | ENE 5 | — | — | WNW 3 |
| kJ | — | — | 58 | 108 | 161 | 122 | 36 | 44 | 10 | — | 87 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 19 | — | — | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 15 | 120 | 160 | 659 | 523 | 421 | 0 | 120 | 13 | 0 | 120 | 1 | 237 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Uruguay - South | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Uruguay | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the El Barco Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for El Barco provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at El Barco can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our El Barco 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 Barco) 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 Barco 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Uruguay - South? If you are looking for accommodation near El Barco, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Uruguay - South, consider staying in Maldonado which is 6 km (4 miles) away. Other places in and around Uruguay - South where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include San Carlos which is 17 km (11 miles) away, Minas, Rocha and La Paloma.
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