El Cardon Surf Break

Lat Long: 28.91° N 114.46° W

El Cardon Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 am 12 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's El Cardon sea temperature is
23.0° C
2.5° 

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


El Cardon surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 16 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 14 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 17s period, SW swell with 499 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 16s period with SW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for El Cardon this week:

The surf forecast for El Cardon over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at El Cardon in the next 16 days are 0.9m 17s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 14) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Thu 13th Aug)2ft (0.6m) 16s
Best Surf11PM (Sun 16th Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 14s
Most Powerful 8PM (Fri 14th Aug)3ft (0.9m) 17s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Cardon over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G'day, I'm Rusty. Let's have a look at what's on the table for El Cardon. This is a consistent point break, exposed to the west swell, but the truth is, the whole 16-day window is pretty grim. We're looking at a long stretch of poor surf conditions, with hardly a moment that's worth paddling out for. The water is sitting at 73°, which is 5° warmer than the long-term average for this time of year—definitely feels like a warm bath out there, but it won't make up for the lack of waves.

The forecast kicks off with nothing on offer for the first few days. It's not until the morning of August 25th that we get a hint of something, but even that's barely a glimmer. The swell is tiny, only 2 ft from the SW, with a period of 16 seconds—that's a long-period groundswell, but with that height, it's just not generating any power. The combined wave energy is a weak 201, and it's only rated as marginal due to tide. The wind is light from the SSW and onshore, so it's not completely wind-blown, but it's still messy. The best moment in the entire run might be the morning of the 27th of August, with a slightly bigger 3 ft SW swell at 15 seconds, and the combined energy climbs to 399—still moderate at best. The wind is light from the WSW, cross-onshore, and the surf is still described as marginal. Honestly, it's not a standout, it's just the least poor option.

For the rest of the period, we're stuck with cross-onshore winds, mostly from the W or WNW, with choppy, small surf. The swell size rarely breaks 2 ft, and the period is often long, but the wind just ruins it. The crowds at El Cardon can be an issue sometimes, but with conditions this poor, that won't be a problem. There's just no quality surf to chase here. This is a blank run for the area—nothing to get excited about, and it's going to take a change in the weather pattern to turn things around. Keep the board waxed and hope the forecasts shift.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Wed morning, min 18°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sat afternoon, min 19°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
2
0
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SW
16
0.5
SW
16
0.6
SW
16
0.6
SW
16
0.6
SW
16
0.6
SW
15
0.6
SW
18
0.6
SW
18
0.9
SW
16
0.9
SW
16
0.9
SW
16
0.9
SW
16
0.8
SW
14
0.8
SW
14
0.7
SW
14
0.6
SW
14
0.6
SW
14
1.2
WNW
7
0.5
SW
16
0.6
SSW
14
0.6
SW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
163
127
203
198
198
174
255
249
386
367
362
353
251
251
214
162
162
132
132
140
186
Wind (km/h)
10
W
25
WNW
10
WNW
20
W
25
WNW
10
WNW
15
W
20
WNW
10
WNW
15
W
25
WNW
10
WNW
15
W
25
WNW
5
W
10
WSW
15
W
5
SSW
15
SSW
15
W
5
W
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
High Tide
9:53AM1.98m
9:17PM2.61m
10:24AM2.06m
9:59PM2.49m
10:55AM2.12m
10:39PM2.29m
11:24AM2.15m
11:19PM2.05m
11:53AM2.15m
11:59PM1.79m
12:23PM2.12m
00:43AM1.54m
12:55PM2.06m
1:44AM1.33m
Low Tide
3:08PM0.85m
4:05AM0.05m
3:53PM0.77m
4:36AM0.19m
4:37PM0.73m
5:04AM0.38m
5:22PM0.74m
5:28AM0.58m
6:09PM0.78m
5:48AM0.79m
7:02PM0.85m
6:02AM0.97m
8:12PM0.92m
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
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>
6:03
6:05
6:05
6:05
6:07
6:07
6:07
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:20
7:19
7:17
7:16
7:15
7:15
7:14
 mm
Temp °C
24
24
21
22
23
20
23
22
20
23
24
20
23
24
20
24
24
20
24
24
21
Feels °C
25
22
21
21
21
19
23
20
19
23
23
20
23
22
20
25
24
21
24
25
22
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the El Cardon Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for El Cardon provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at El Cardon can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our El Cardon 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 Cardon) 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 Cardon 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 Baja Norte? If you are looking for accommodation near El Cardon, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Baja Norte, consider staying in Santa Isabel which is 123 km (76 miles) away.

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