El Capitan Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.46° N 120.02° W

El Capitan 48 hour detailed Surf Forecast

Issued: 10 am 29 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's El Capitan sea temperature is
20.3° C
3.4° 

El Capitan surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


How big are the waves at El Capitan today (29 Jul):

  • Morning surf: Morning surf (29 Jul, local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 16s period with SSW swell.
  • Afternoon surf: Afternoon surf (29 Jul, local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s period with SSW swell.
  • Evening surf: Evening surf (29 Jul, local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 16s period with S swell.

The current surf forecast for El Capitan at 5PM is: 1.1m 16s primary swell from a South-southwest direction and 0.9m 8s secondary swell from a West-northwest direction (forecast issued at 10:00am July 29). An open ocean swell of 0.4m 12s is not directed at the surf break. The wind direction is predicted to be cross-onshore.

Time (PDT) & DateWave HeightWave Period
Morning (29 Jul)4ft (1.2m)16s
Afternoon (29 Jul)3.5ft (1.0m)16s
Evening (29 Jul)4ft (1.2m)16s

Table - waves today at El Capitan. (Swell directed towards the surf break)


Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 32°C on Fri afternoon, min 18°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
Friday
31
8 AM
11 AM
2 PM
5 PM
8 PM
11 PM
2 AM
5 AM
8 AM
11 AM
2 PM
5 PM
8 PM
11 PM
2 AM
5 AM
8 AM
11 AM
2 PM
5 PM
8 PM
11 PM
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
0
1
3
4
3
2
2
1
0
0
3
3
3
2
3
0
1
1
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.2
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
1.1
SSW
16
1.1
SSW
16
1.3
S
15
1.2
S
16
1.2
S
15
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
15
1.1
S
14
1.1
S
14
1.1
S
14
1.1
S
14
1.1
S
14
1.1
S
14
1.1
S
13
1.1
S
14
1
S
12
0.7
S
13
0.9
S
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
778
552
493
636
612
794
697
670
372
335
322
496
503
496
482
456
442
423
476
306
171
268
Wind (km/h)
5
SE
10
SSW
10
SW
10
WSW
5
NW
5
NNW
5
NE
5
E
5
SE
10
SW
10
SW
10
WSW
5
NW
5
N
0
NE
5
E
5
WSW
10
SW
10
SW
10
W
10
NW
5
N
Wind State
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
glassy
glassy
cross
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
glassy
cross
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-off
off
High Tide
11:24AM1.52m
10:05PM2.15m
11:50AM1.56m
10:39PM2.08m
12:16PM1.60m
Low Tide
3:55PM1.08m
5:18AM0.22m
4:34PM1.05m
5:45AM0.28m
5:17PM1.02m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:07
6:07
6:09
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:04
8:02
8:01
 mm
Temp °C
19
25
26
26
22
20
19
18
21
28
28
29
25
22
21
20
23
30
30
32
28
24
Feels °C
20
26
26
25
22
20
19
18
22
28
27
28
24
21
21
20
23
28
29
30
26
22
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
How to use the Wavefinder 

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