El Medano Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – the outlook for the next 16 days is a tough one. We’re looking at a solid run of poor surf conditions, with no real standout windows for a proper paddle. The wind is the main villain here, blowing cross-onshore from the NE or ENE almost every day, chopping up whatever small swell tries to push in.

The first spot on the list is El Medano, a beach and reef setup that rarely breaks and is best for beginners. The water’s sitting at 74°, which is about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there. We start off the 29th of July with a weak 3 ft swell from the NE, a period of only 5 seconds, and combined energy of just 41 (weak). Wind is a cross-onshore 16 mph, and it’s just poor – no point suiting up. Wednesday afternoon sees a 4 ft NE swell, but the wind picks up to 22 mph, making it lumpy and messy.

Thursday the 30th is more of the same: 4 ft NE swell, 6-second period, and cross-onshore winds of 19 mph. The energy pops up to 106 (moderate), but the wind kills it. Friday the 31st brings a 4 ft to 4 ft NE swell, but again, 22 mph winds make it a write-off. Saturday the 1st of August looks a bit lighter with a 6 mph breeze, but the swell drops to 2 ft with a 7-8 second period – tiny and weak, with energy at 66-86. Not worth the effort.

Sunday the 2nd has a brief spike of 4 ft from the NNE early, but it’s a 5-second period, so short and fat, and the wind is light but still cross-onshore. The afternoon throws a 2 ft S swell with a 13-second period, which is a long-period groundswell, but it’s tiny. The energy is 112 (moderate), but you’d need a point break to get anything out of it – and we’re at El Medano.

From Monday the 3rd of August through to the 13th, it’s a relentless grind. Swell heights range from 3 ft to 6 ft, periods vary from 5 to 9 seconds, and the combined energy climbs from 137 up to a peak of 494 (moderate-strong). But the wind never lets up. It’s a constant cross-onshore from the NE or ENE, 12 to 28 mph, keeping the surface messy, lumpy, or choppy. The 8th of August has a 5 ft to 6 ft NE swell with a 9-second period and energy of 409-462 – that’s moderate to strong energy, but at over 5 ft it’s pushing into beginner-challenging territory, and with the wind, it’s a kite-surfing setup, not a paddling one.

Overall, there’s a gap of about 16 days with no recommendations. El Medano is rarely breaking anyway, and this forecast locks in the poor conditions. Keep the board in the car, but don’t hold your breath – the forecast can change, but right now, it’s a bust.

Rusty.

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