El Medano Surf Break

Lat Long: 28.04° N 16.54° W

El Medano Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 6 pm 12 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's El Medano sea temperature is
23.7° C
0.6° 

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


El Medano surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with 441 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period with SSW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for El Medano this week:

The surf forecast for El Medano over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 0.9m and 8s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at El Medano in the next 16 days are 0.9m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 9s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 10PM.

Wave TypeTime (WEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Mon 17th Aug)3ft (0.9m) 16s
Best Surf 7AM (Mon 17th Aug)3ft (0.9m) 16s
Most Powerful10AM (Wed 19th Aug)3ft (0.9m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: this outlook is a tough one. For the next 16 days, El Medano is mostly a no-go for any kind of decent paddle surfing. The opening week is absolutely hammered by strong, onshore winds that are going to keep the surf small, choppy, and messy. We’re talking mostly weak, short-period windswell from the NE with combined energies mostly in the double digits (as low as 74) to low triple digits, and hardly a wave worth the paddle. The whole period from Wednesday morning through to the following Monday is a write-off—roughly six days of poor conditions.

There is a glimmer, though. Tuesday the 18th afternoon through to Wednesday the 19th, we get a brief window of glassy conditions. The swell shifts to a cleaner SSW groundswell, with periods hitting 14 to 16 seconds, bringing a bit more shape. The combined energy jumps up to moderate territory (e.g., 305 to 455), and the offshore is dead calm or glassy. This is the only real standout. The morning of the 18th is glassy but small, so the afternoon is better. Wednesday the 19th is the pick of the bunch: S wind at 0 km/h, glassy, with 3 ft to 3 ft SSW swell at 15-16 seconds. It’s small, but for a quiet spot that rarely breaks, it’s the best you’ll get. Keep in mind El Medano (beach and reef) is exposed to SSW and the optimum is from the SSW, so this is spot on. Crowds are possible.

After that, it’s back to onshore winds and poor surf, with a few marginal days around the 21st and 23rd morning, but nothing to get excited about. The final week fades into tiny, weak surf with combined energy dropping back to double digits. For the experts, there’s just nothing with any size. For beginners, the swell never gets above 3 ft in the good windows anyway.

All in all, if you’re free on the afternoon of Tuesday the 18th or Wednesday the 19th, you might snag a few clean, waist-high runners. Otherwise, it’s a long wait.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Thu morning, min 24°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sat afternoon, min 23°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NE on Sat afternoon, calm by Sun night).

Wed
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
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
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
1
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.2
ENE
6
1.2
NE
6
0.9
NE
6
1.2
NE
6
1.3
NE
6
1.2
NE
6
1
NE
7
1.3
NE
6
1.1
NE
6
1
NE
6
0.4
SSW
16
0.5
SSW
17
0.6
SSW
16
0.5
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
16
0.7
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
13
0.7
SSW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
81
92
58
98
116
109
91
115
84
62
104
164
208
126
353
237
301
192
184
181
Wind (km/h)
35
ENE
30
NE
20
NE
35
NE
30
NE
30
NE
35
ENE
30
NE
20
NE
30
ENE
25
NE
20
NE
25
ENE
20
NE
5
ENE
15
E
5
NE
5
SW
5
ESE
5
NNE
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
glassy
glassy
glassy
High Tide
2:26AM1.95m
2:39PM2.22m
3:06AM1.97m
3:19PM2.22m
3:44AM1.94m
3:57PM2.14m
4:21AM1.87m
4:35PM2.00m
4:57AM1.77m
5:12PM1.82m
5:34AM1.66m
5:51PM1.63m
Low Tide
8:17PM-0.05m
8:23AM0.07m
8:58PM-0.08m
9:02AM0.05m
9:36PM-0.04m
9:40AM0.08m
10:13PM0.05m
10:18AM0.17m
10:47PM0.18m
10:55AM0.28m
11:22PM0.33m
11:35AM0.42m
11:58PM0.49m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:33
7:35
7:35
7:35
7:35
7:37
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:46
8:46
8:45
8:45
8:44
8:43
8:42
 mm
Temp °C
26
25
28
28
27
27
28
25
26
26
24
25
24
24
24
24
24
25
25
24
Feels °C
23
22
24
24
24
23
24
23
25
24
22
24
23
22
26
24
25
27
27
26
  • 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 Medano Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for El Medano provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at El Medano can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our El Medano 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 Medano) 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 Medano 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.

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