El Capitan Surf Break

Lat Long: 34.46° N 120.02° W

El Capitan 48 hour detailed Surf Forecast

Issued: 10 am 17 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's El Capitan sea temperature is
20.7° C
3.5° 

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 (17 Aug):

  • Morning surf: Morning surf (17 Aug, local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s period with SSW swell.
  • Afternoon surf: Afternoon surf (17 Aug, local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s period with SSW swell.
  • Evening surf: Evening surf (17 Aug, local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 14s period with SW swell.

The current surf forecast for El Capitan at 3PM is: 0.8m 14s primary swell from a South-southwest direction and 0.2m 10s secondary swell from a South direction (forecast issued at 10:00am August 17). An open ocean swell of 1.2m 5s is not directed at the surf break. The wind direction is predicted to be cross-onshore.

Time (PDT) & DateWave HeightWave Period
Morning (17 Aug)2.5ft (0.8m)14s
Afternoon (17 Aug)2.5ft (0.8m)14s
Evening (17 Aug)2.5ft (0.7m)14s

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


Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 34°C on Wed afternoon, min 19°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
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
2
1
2
2
2
1
0
1
1
1
2
2
3
1
0
1
1
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)
0.8
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.7
SW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
16
0.7
SSW
16
1.3
WNW
7
0.5
SSW
17
0.6
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
16
0.8
SSW
16
0.7
SSW
16
0.7
SSW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
272
268
268
268
208
261
264
283
322
226
149
157
121
217
239
246
264
294
277
280
215
209
Wind (km/h)
5
NNW
5
WSW
15
WSW
15
WNW
15
NNW
15
NNW
10
NNW
10
NNW
5
NNW
10
W
10
W
10
W
15
NNW
10
NNW
5
NNW
5
NNW
5
NW
10
SW
10
SW
10
W
10
NNW
5
NNW
Wind State
off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-off
glassy
High Tide
1:42PM1.88m
2:28AM1.33m
2:24PM1.84m
4:24AM1.21m
3:16PM1.80m
Low Tide
7:04AM0.78m
8:38PM0.76m
7:30AM0.97m
10:01PM0.74m
7:54AM1.12m
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:22
6:22
6:22
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:45
7:44
7:43
 mm
Temp °C
20
28
30
30
22
19
20
20
23
30
33
32
23
21
23
23
25
31
33
34
28
24
Feels °C
20
27
28
28
20
17
19
19
22
29
32
31
21
20
23
22
25
30
32
33
27
23
  • 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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