Surf Forecasts:
El Emir surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 25 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 12s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period, S swell with 2,462 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 25 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 12s period with SSE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for El Emir this week:
The surf forecast for El Emir over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 12s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at El Emir in the next 16 days are 2.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (-03) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Emir over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s break down what’s cookin’ at El Emir (beach and reef) in feet and miles per hour.
This 16-day stretch is a tough one, no two ways about it. The first few days are a total loss. Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st are all poor surf conditions with onshore or cross-onshore winds and messy, lumpy waves. Thursday morning you’ve got a tiny 1ft S swell with a short 7-second period and only 10 combined energy units – that’s weak. Friday morning the swell jumps to 7ft from the S, and the energy bumps up to 511, but it’s paired with a strong 25 mph cross-onshore wind. That’s a mess. Saturday the 22nd doesn’t look much better – fresh cross-shore winds and lumpy conditions. Sunday the 23rd is the biggest swell of the run, with 7ft to 8ft S/SSE swell and periods hitting 13 and even 15 seconds – that’s proper groundswell energy, with the combined energy reading 1682 and 2306. But the wind is cross-onshore and the surf quality is still rated poor. For a beach and reef setup, that long-period swell might be too straight for the beach, but it could offer something at the reef if the tide and wind align. Still, the outlook is poor.
Now, come Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th, things start to look a little more promising. Monday morning shows a 5ft SSE swell with a 13-second period, and the wind is light onshore – not ideal, but the energy is moderate at 786. The surf is described as “marginal,” but it’s a step up. Tuesday the 25th is where it gets interesting. Tuesday morning has a 4ft SSE swell with an 11-second period, and the wind is a light cross-offshore from the NE at 12 mph. The comment says “clean” conditions. Tuesday afternoon the wind eases to 9 mph, still cross-off, and the swell holds at 4ft – the energy is moderate at 358, and the surf is described as “expect good surf conditions.” That’s a standout window. Wednesday the 26th is also clean, with a 3ft SSE swell and 13-second period in the morning, and 3ft in the afternoon. The wind is cross-off and light. These are your best bets – clean, manageable waves for a beginner-friendly spot, but the size is small, so don’t expect much power.
After that, it drops off again. Thursday the 27th through to the end of the first week of September, the surf is mostly poor or marginal. The swell dips to 1ft to 3ft, the wind swings onshore, and the energy drops to weak numbers like 44 and 80. There’s a brief pulse on the 2nd of September with 6ft to 6ft SSW swell, but the wind is cross-onshore and the period is short (6-7 seconds), so it’s messy. The 3rd has a cleaner cross-shore wind but only 4ft to 5ft – still not great.
The water temperature at El Emir is 51°F, which is about average for this time of year – no surprises there.
Overall, the standout is Tuesday the 25th afternoon and Wednesday the 26th morning. The swell is small (around 3ft), but the wind is light and cross-offshore, giving you clean, rideable waves. That’s your best chance for a session. The bigger swells are too windy, and the rest is too small or messy. It’s a lean run, but there’s a little window to get wet.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 11°C on Thu night, min 7°C on Thu night). Mainly strong winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 12°C on Tue afternoon, min 5°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Sun morning, light winds from the SE by Mon morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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 7 | S 7 | SSW 5 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | S 10 | SW 6 | S 11 | S 13 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | SE 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
8 | 4 | 80 | 510 | 458 | 498 | 347 | 214 | 566 | 1682 | 2306 | 1526 | 786 | 629 | 444 | 290 | 302 | 304 | 368 | 304 | 245 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:19PM0.32m | 2:37AM0.19m | 6:53AM0.20m | 2:10PM0.31m | 4:06AM0.19m | 3:04PM0.30m | 5:21AM0.19m | 4:02PM0.29m | 5:55AM0.19m | 4:58PM0.29m | 6:24AM0.20m | 5:51PM0.29m | 6:50AM0.20m | 6:39PM0.30m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:47PM0.06m | 4:33AM0.19m | 10:39PM0.07m | 5:18AM0.19m | 11:33PM0.08m | 6:40AM0.19m | 00:30AM0.09m | 8:06AM0.19m | 1:24AM0.09m | 9:13AM0.18m | 2:13AM0.10m | 10:08AM0.18m | 1:43PM0.17m | 2:56AM0.10m | |||||||
7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | |
— | 6:10 | — | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | |
mm | 6 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 9 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 15 | 18 | 16 |
Feels °C | 7 | 8 | 5 | -2 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 1 | 3 | -1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 11 | 16 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | S 7 | E 5 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | S 10 | S 10 | S 11 | — | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | SE 13 |
8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 347 | 106 | 566 | — | 2306 | 1526 | 786 | 629 | 444 | 290 | 302 | 304 | 368 | 304 | 245 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | ESE 3 | E 8 | — | — | — | — | SSE 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 14 | SE 15 | SE 15 | — | — | — |
2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 87 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 51 | 56 | 178 | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 5 | SE 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 2 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSW 5 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | WSW 5 | SW 6 | W 5 | S 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | NE 4 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | E 6 |
— | — | 80 | 510 | 458 | 498 | 51 | 214 | 47 | 1682 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 31 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 942 | 191 | 177 | 923 | 943 | 167 | 80 | 164 | 80 | 523 | 523 | 85 | 52 | 523 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Uruguay - South | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Uruguay | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Information about the El Emir Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for El Emir provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at El Emir can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our El Emir 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 Emir) 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 Emir 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 Emir, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Uruguay - South, consider staying in Maldonado which is 7 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 18 km (11 miles) away, Minas, Rocha and La Paloma.











