Surf Forecasts:
El Barco surf forecast from 24 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 12s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 14s period, S swell with 146 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 24 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 12s period with S 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 Friday (Jul 24) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at El Barco in the next 16 days are 0.6m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Friday (Jul 31) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (-03) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Barco over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at the local surf picture for the next couple of weeks. To be straight with you, it’s a pretty grim stretch of small, weak swell and messy wind. There’s really only one morning that stands out, and you’ll have to wait for it.
The first ten days or so are a write-off. We’ve got tiny dribbles of swell – mostly 1ft to 2ft – with cross-offshore winds that are keeping the surface clean, but there’s just no push. The wave energy is weak, sitting in the 40s to low 100s. The water temp is about 52°, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so at least a good wetsuit won’t be a surprise.
The only glimmer of hope comes on Sunday, the 2nd of August. The morning at El Barco gets a lift. The swell height comes up to 2ft from the ESE, with a period of 10 seconds, pushing the combined energy up to a moderate 231. The wind is light and cross-off from the ENE, which means the waves will be clean. It’s a fairly consistent spot, so you might get a few fun ones, but it’s still small, so keep your expectations in check. The break is exposed to the south swell, but the ESE direction is off the optimum, so it’s a bit of a compromise.
After that morning, it’s back to the same story. The rest of the 2nd, and all of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th, are just poor surf conditions with tiny, weak swell. The end of the forecast window, around the 6th and 7th, sees a pulse of bigger swell – 5ft to 6ft – but it’s short period windswell (7 seconds) with onshore or cross-onshore winds, making it choppy and messy. That’s a kite-surfing setup, not a paddling one.
So, the only true standout is that Sunday morning, the 2nd of August. It’s not epic, but it’s the best we’ve got. Get out there early, because it’s gone by the afternoon.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon afternoon, min 8°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Mon afternoon, fresh winds from the S by Wed morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 9 | S 13 | S 14 | S 12 | SSE 12 | E 8 | S 13 | S 12 | E 7 | E 8 | S 11 | S 11 | S 9 | S 10 | S 9 | SSE 5 | S 6 | S 6 | S 7 | SSE 6 | SSE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 24 | 84 | 146 | 77 | 46 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 17 | 18 | 10 | 37 | 28 | 29 | 14 | 62 | 133 | 67 | 70 | 42 | 81 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:56PM0.31m | 5:26AM0.20m | 4:46PM0.32m | 6:08AM0.20m | 5:33PM0.32m | 6:45AM0.20m | 6:18PM0.32m | 7:20AM0.20m | 7:01PM0.32m | 7:53AM0.21m | 1:32PM0.19m | 7:43PM0.32m | 8:24AM0.22m | 1:49PM0.18m | 8:24PM0.31m | ||||||
Low Tide | 10:45AM0.18m | 00:16AM0.07m | 8:08AM0.19m | 1:10AM0.07m | 8:55AM0.18m | 2:00AM0.07m | 9:34AM0.17m | 2:47AM0.07m | 10:15AM0.17m | 3:30AM0.08m | 3:04PM0.18m | 4:12AM0.08m | 4:00PM0.16m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | |  | | |  |  | | | | |  |  | | |  | |
 | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — |
 | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 11 |
Feels °C | 8 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | E 6 | S 14 | S 12 | SSE 12 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 7 | S 11 | S 9 | ESE 8 | S 9 | E 8 | E 7 | SSE 12 | S 6 | S 10 | SSE 8 |
| kJ | 22 | 20 | 146 | 77 | 46 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 17 | 18 | 10 | 37 | 28 | 20 | 14 | 10 | 9 | 15 | 38 | 30 | 81 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 13 | E 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | S 11 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | E 4 | ESE 8 | S 10 | E 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | E 8 | S 11 | SSE 14 | SSE 12 |
| kJ | 24 | 84 | 17 | 18 | 22 | 21 | 28 | 23 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 20 | 29 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 4 | 37 | 18 | 49 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 6 | SE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | — | E 4 | — | — | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | E 7 | ENE 4 | — | S 12 | — | — | S 10 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 |
| kJ | 3 | 3 | 6 | 13 | — | 3 | — | — | 4 | 14 | 3 | 10 | 4 | — | 3 | — | — | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | ENE 2 | — | W 3 | — | — | — | ENE 3 | — | — | — | SE 4 | SSE 5 | S 6 | S 6 | S 7 | SSE 6 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | 6 | 62 | 133 | 67 | 70 | 42 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 406 | 8 | 79 | 10 | 0 | 297 | 406 | 911 | 700 | 524 | 409 | 396 | 6 | 6 |
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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