Surf Forecasts:
El Medano surf forecast from 15 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 19 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s period, NE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 18 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 9s period, NNE swell with 378 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 19 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s period with NE 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 Saturday (Sep 19) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 13s. 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 1.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 10s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 17) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Sat 19th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Sat 19th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Medano over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, mate. Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s happening at El Medano. I’ll be honest – over the next 16 days, you’re mostly looking at flat, blown-out junk, with only a couple of tiny windows to get wet.
The first chance is Monday morning, September 14. We’ve got a 2ft wave from the NE with a short 8-second period, and the wave energy is weak (58). The wind is glassy out of the south at 3 mph, so the surface will be like a mirror. It’s surfable but nothing to write home about. That’s the best we get for a while.
Then we hit a long, rough patch. From Monday afternoon all the way through to Friday morning, September 18, it’s mostly cross-onshore wind from the ENE, picking up to 19-22 mph by Thursday. Swell stays under 2ft, periods are all over, and it’s choppy and lumpy. Wave energy climbs into the mid-200s and 270s by Thursday, but with that wind and size, this beach-and-reef setup is looking more like a kitesurfing zone than a paddle zone.
Friday morning September 18 sees the biggest swell of the run – about 5ft from the NNE, period at 10 seconds, and wave energy jumps to 575 (moderate to strong). But the wind is still cross-on from the ENE at 3 mph, so you get light wind ripples. Tides might be questionable – it’s marginal at best.
We get another glassy slot on Saturday morning September 19, with calm south winds – but the swell is tiny, just 1ft from the NE, energy back to 61. Ordinary again.
The next blip is Wednesday afternoon September 23. Swell is 2ft from the SSW with a long 15-second period, and wave energy hits 151 (moderate). The wind goes glassy from the east at 3 mph, so it’ll be clean. But the size is tiny. That’s the only other “surfable” tag in the whole run.
From there, it’s back to small, cross-on junk through September 29. Swell stays under 2ft, periods vary, and winds stay onshore or cross-on. The second week is a total write-off – very low confidence in any improvement.
Best bet: Monday morning September 14 for a tiny, glassy session, or Wednesday afternoon September 23 for a clean but very small long-period wave. If you’re keen, go for the 14th morning. Otherwise, leave the board at home. El Medano rarely breaks well, and this forecast proves it.
Water temp is 75°F, right around the average for this time of year – nothing unusual there.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 32°C on Tue morning, min 23°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon morning, fresh winds from the ENE by Wed afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Thu morning, min 22°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Thu morning, calm by Sat morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NE 8 | NE 8 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | S 16 | SSW 15 | NE 7 | SSW 14 | S 13 | NNE 10 | NNE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | S 15 | SSW 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 39 | 28 | 56 | 54 | 50 | 61 | 87 | 131 | 135 | 120 | 163 | 92 | 378 | 332 | 58 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 20 | 17 | 12 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 4:00PM1.92m | 4:16AM1.82m | 4:33PM1.75m | 4:49AM1.70m | 5:08PM1.57m | 5:24AM1.56m | 5:49PM1.39m | 6:11AM1.41m | 6:51PM1.24m | 7:30AM1.30m | 8:44PM1.17m | 9:29AM1.31m | 10:32PM1.24m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:05PM0.20m | 10:20AM0.25m | 10:35PM0.34m | 10:56AM0.39m | 11:07PM0.50m | 11:37AM0.55m | 11:46PM0.65m | 12:33PM0.69m | 00:47AM0.78m | 2:17PM0.79m | 2:47AM0.84m | 4:19PM0.74m | |||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — |
 | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 29 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 22 |
Feels °C | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 | S 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | NE 8 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NNE 8 | SSW 11 |
| kJ | 39 | 28 | 23 | 54 | 50 | 47 | 87 | 131 | 135 | 120 | 163 | 37 | 110 | 88 | 58 | 28 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 7 | 12 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 4 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | WNW 10 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | NNE 8 |
| kJ | 19 | 17 | 56 | 17 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 9 | 92 | 87 | 87 | 53 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 14 | 13 | 6 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 12 | NE 7 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | — | SSW 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NE 12 | NE 11 | NE 11 | S 15 | S 15 | — |
| kJ | 8 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 33 | 61 | 45 | 8 | 10 | 9 | — | 10 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 17 | 17 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NE 4 | NE 4 | ENE 3 | ENE 4 | NE 4 | ENE 5 | NE 5 | NE 7 | ENE 6 | NE 5 | NNE 10 | NNE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 6 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 17 | 24 | 43 | 118 | 108 | 42 | 378 | 332 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 35 | 19 | 34 | 19 | 11 | 11 | 19 | 11 | 19 | 19 | 11 | 11 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 34 | 34 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Tenerife | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Spain (Africa) | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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