Surf Forecasts:
El Roque surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s period, NNE swell with 277 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for El Roque this week:
The most powerful waves expected at El Roque in the next 16 days are 1.7m 7s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) 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 0.1m 14s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Roque over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – the outlook for the next couple of weeks is a tough one. We’ve got a solid run of surf on the horizon, but the conditions are going to test your patience. The biggest issue is that while we’ll see some decent swell, the wind is almost always onshore or cross-onshore, and the wave period is short, so the quality is just not there. It’s a real shame, because the swell energy is there, but it’s going to be chopped up and messy.
Let’s start with the only spot we’re looking at: El Roque. This is a reef break, fairly consistent, and it’s exposed to the north-northwest, so it’s in the firing line. The water temperature is sitting at 75°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – you’ll notice it.
The first real action kicks off on Friday, August 14th, in the afternoon. It’s a clear day, but a moderate breeze from the NE at 12 mph is making it cross-onshore. The swell is 6 ft from the NNE with a short period of 7 seconds. The combined swell energy is weak at 342. It’s poor surf conditions, choppy and messy. Not worth paddling out for.
This pattern continues right through the weekend and into the next week. Saturday and Sunday see similar swell sizes (4 ft to 5 ft) with the same NNE direction and short period. The wind is onshore, but the speeds are lighter on Sunday (6–9 mph), which is a tiny bit better, but the waves are still poor. The energy levels are weak, ranging from 170 to 202.
We roll into the week of August 17th to the 21st, and it’s more of the same story. Swell holds around 3 ft to 5 ft, still short period (6–9 seconds), and the wind is onshore from the north mostly. The energy is still weak, staying under 230. There’s a slight reprieve on the morning of Tuesday, the 18th, with a light breeze, but it’s still cross-on and the waves are poor. On Thursday the 20th, the swell drops to just 2 ft in the morning.
Then, from Saturday, August 22nd, the swell picks up. We see 5 ft on Saturday, building to 6 ft on Sunday, and then jumping to 7 ft by Monday the 24th. The energy is also climbing, hitting moderate levels of 368 on the 23rd and then strong levels of 644 on the 24th. This is where it gets interesting in size, but the wind is still cross-onshore from the NE or NNE at 12–16 mph, and the period is still short at 7–8 seconds. The wave comment is still “poor surf conditions” because it’s choppy.
This stronger swell, with wind on it and short period, makes for a rough, bumpy ocean. The waves will be powerful but not well shaped. At 7 ft, this is getting into the realm of experts only, and with the poor conditions, it’s not a great look. The energy is strong, but the quality is low.
We see this messy, moderate-to-strong energy run continue through the end of August, with swell staying between 5 ft and 7 ft, and the period staying short. The wind is always onshore or cross-onshore. The last few days of the month, from the 26th to the 29th, the swell gradually drops back down from 7 ft to 5 ft, and the energy eases.
So, the bottom line: there’s surf, but it’s not good surf. The short period and constant onshore wind mean it’s going to be a ragged, choppy mess. Don’t get your hopes up for clean waves. This is one of those periods where you might be better off waiting for a change in the forecast. If you’re a real die-hard, you might find something rideable in the lulls, but it’s going to be a battle.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sun morning, min 21°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed afternoon, min 22°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNW 9 | NNE 8 | N 8 | NNE 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
256 | 223 | 203 | 172 | 143 | 68 | 151 | 200 | 259 | 189 | 185 | 165 | 181 | 185 | 142 | 136 | 136 | 157 | 205 | 190 | 138 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 4:00PM2.32m | 4:24AM2.04m | 4:38PM2.17m | 5:00AM1.93m | 5:15PM1.98m | 5:37AM1.80m | 5:54PM1.77m | 6:17AM1.66m | 6:40PM1.57m | 7:09AM1.53m | 7:45PM1.40m | 8:28AM1.43m | 9:26PM1.33m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:43AM0.09m | 10:14PM0.06m | 10:20AM0.18m | 10:49PM0.19m | 10:58AM0.30m | 11:24PM0.36m | 11:37AM0.46m | 00:00AM0.53m | 12:22PM0.61m | 00:44AM0.69m | 1:23PM0.76m | 1:49AM0.82m | 3:01PM0.84m | 3:34AM0.86m | |||||||
7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | |
— | 8:40 | — | — | 8:39 | — | — | 8:38 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:36 | — | — | 8:35 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 23 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 |
Feels °C | 22 | 23 | 22 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 9 | NNW 10 | NNW 9 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | NNE 8 | N 8 | NNE 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | NW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 |
59 | 60 | 34 | 172 | 143 | 56 | 151 | 200 | 259 | 189 | 185 | 165 | 181 | 185 | 142 | 136 | 13 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 3 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | N 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 11 | NW 10 | S 13 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | N 15 |
17 | 15 | 15 | 33 | 32 | 46 | 37 | 26 | 25 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 15 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | S 15 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | S 14 | NW 7 | S 13 | S 13 | NW 12 | S 14 | S 14 | SSW 13 | — | — | — | S 13 |
5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 68 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 35 | — | — | — | 4 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 |
256 | 223 | 203 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 136 | 157 | 205 | 190 | 138 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 70 | 38 | 45 | 38 | 45 | 38 | 38 | 38 | 29 | 13 | 13 | 38 | 38 | 45 | 38 | 38 | 38 | 38 | 45 | 38 | 38 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gran Canaria | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Spain (Africa) | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the El Roque Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for El Roque provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at El Roque can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our El Roque 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 Roque) 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 Roque 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 Gran Canaria? If you are looking for accommodation near El Roque, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Gran Canaria, consider staying in Arucas which is 5 km (3 miles) away. Other places in and around Gran Canaria where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Galdar which is 8 km (5 miles) away, Santa Brigida, Las Palmas and Telde.











