El Medano Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, and I’ve got the lowdown on El Medano for the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, so let’s get into it.

First thing you need to know: the water temperature is sitting at 73°F, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Looking at the whole period, it’s a long, frustrating wait for anything decent. For the first week and a half, from Sunday the 12th right through to Monday the 21st, it’s pretty much a write-off. We’re looking at over a week of poor to marginal conditions. The wind is almost constantly a cross-onshore breeze, anywhere from a light breeze to a strong one, and the surf quality is terrible. There are a few days with some little bumps of long-period SSW swell around 2ft, but the wind just messes it up completely. The combined swell energy is weak to moderate, but it doesn’t matter because the conditions are so bad. It’s the kind of stretch where you’d be better off checking the kite forecast.

Then, we finally get a couple of days that look interesting. Tuesday the 21st of July is the standout. The morning is looking glassy, with a light easterly wind and a clean 2ft SSW groundswell running at a very long 13 seconds. That’s the one to circle. Afternoon improves too, with a clean, light cross-offshore breeze and a 4ft NNE swell. This is a break that rarely breaks, though, so you’ve got to be on it when it does.

After that, it fades again. Wednesday and Thursday the 22nd and 23rd have some tiny, weak swell with little energy, but the conditions are still poor to only "ordinary". By Friday the 24th, the wind is howling again, and the swell is gutless. That Tuesday morning window is the only real chance for a clean wave.

Overall, it’s a quiet outlook. Don’t expect much, and keep your eyes on the 21st.

Rusty.

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