Surf Forecasts:
El Zunzal surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 18s period, SSW swell with 408 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for El Zunzal this week:
The surf forecast for El Zunzal over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at El Zunzal in the next 16 days are 0.8m 18s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Zunzal over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright crew, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s ahead for El Zunzal over the next couple of weeks.
First thing’s first: this is a classic point break that loves a solid SSW line, and the next fortnight is stacked with clean, early morning sessions. The water’s feeling pretty normal for this time of year, so don’t overthink the rubber.
The first week is all about small, clean waves. We kick off Wednesday the 19th with a 3ft SSW groundswell packing some serious punch (558). The morning has a light cross-off breeze – the kind that keeps the faces smooth. It’s not huge, but with that 15-second period, it’ll reel off proper walls. That’s the pick of the early days.
Thursday the 20th morning is even smaller at 2ft, but dead glassy. A perfect day for a longboard. Friday the 21st repeats the formula: 3ft and glassy. The weekend gets a little sloppy with afternoon breezes, but Sunday the 23rd morning is a gem – dead calm, 3ft of clean swell (553). That’s your best early call.
There’s a bit of a lull mid-week. Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th are glassy mornings, but the swell drops to 2ft. Still, with those long 18-second periods, you’ll get gorgeous, peeling lines – just expect longer waits between sets.
Now, the real juice. Saturday the 29th of August is a massive standout. The combined energy rockets up to a very strong 1143, pushing 4-5ft of SW groundswell at a meaty 16 seconds. That’s proper groundswell. The morning is clean with a cross-off breeze. This one’s for the experienced crew – it’ll be too much for beginners. Sunday the 30th is equally pumping, another 4-5ft of SW swell, glassy all day. That Saturday morning and Sunday are the absolute peaks of this whole run. El Zunzal can get ‘sometimes’ busy, so set your alarm.
The following week calms down but stays clean. Monday the 1st of September still has solid 4ft waves with clean conditions, and there’s a great run of glassy mornings right through to Thursday the 3rd. Wednesday the 2nd afternoon looks particularly sweet – 3ft with a 17-second period and dead calm.
So here’s the take: the first week is small and clean, ideal for logging. The big show is on Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th of August – that’s the heavy, clean swell you want to plan around. Don’t sleep on it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 32°C on Wed morning, min 27°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 31°C on Sat morning, min 26°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 387 | 372 | 261 | 186 | 178 | 147 | 138 | 135 | 223 | 227 | 182 | 239 | 236 | 156 | 286 | 280 | 270 | 351 | 234 | 173 | 251 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off | glassy | on | off | glassy | on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off | glassy | on | off | glassy | on | off |
High Tide | 7:33PM1.69m | 7:58AM1.88m | 8:22PM1.57m | 8:48AM1.78m | 9:17PM1.47m | 9:44AM1.71m | 10:21PM1.42m | 10:47AM1.68m | 11:29PM1.43m | 11:48AM1.70m | 00:30AM1.49m | 12:44PM1.75m | 1:21AM1.60m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:34PM0.40m | 1:35AM0.44m | 2:24PM0.50m | 2:22AM0.55m | 3:19PM0.58m | 3:15AM0.63m | 4:22PM0.62m | 4:18AM0.68m | 5:27PM0.62m | 5:24AM0.68m | 6:26PM0.57m | 6:26AM0.64m | 7:14PM0.49m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — |
 | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:13 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 6 | — | 1 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 32 | 30 | 29 | 32 | 30 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 30 | 26 | 31 | 30 | 27 | 31 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 27 |
Feels °C | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 35 | 34 | 31 | 33 | 33 | 30 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSE 8 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 10 | SE 7 | SSW 18 | S 9 | SE 7 | SSW 17 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 126 | 372 | 261 | 106 | 178 | 147 | 138 | 135 | 223 | 227 | 182 | 141 | 128 | 64 | 286 | 63 | 53 | 351 | 88 | 64 | 251 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | S 8 | SE 7 | SW 14 | S 8 | S 8 | SE 8 | S 8 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 9 | SSW 12 | SSW 18 | S 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SE 6 |
| kJ | 387 | 34 | 36 | 186 | 47 | 49 | 45 | 66 | 191 | 131 | 166 | 239 | 236 | 156 | 83 | 138 | 270 | 61 | 234 | 173 | 27 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | S 8 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SE 6 | S 8 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SSW 16 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSW 19 | S 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | S 9 | SE 6 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 |
| kJ | 45 | 30 | 44 | 32 | 31 | 26 | 66 | 37 | 13 | 107 | 49 | 28 | 148 | 94 | 149 | 280 | 63 | 26 | 63 | 38 | 40 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 3 | SE 7 | — | — | SE 7 | — | NNE 2 | S 2 | — | — | S 3 | NNW 3 | NE 3 | W 6 | — | — | SSW 2 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 2 | 59 | — | — | 102 | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 491 | 0 | 0 | 506 | 0 | 0 | 491 | 0 | 0 | 350 | 0 | 0 | 145 | 0 | 0 | 322 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in El-Salvador - Costa del Balsamo | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in El Salvador | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the El Zunzal Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for El Zunzal provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at El Zunzal can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our El Zunzal 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 Zunzal) 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 Zunzal 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.
El Zunzal is 11 km (7 miles) from the city of La Libertad. If you plan a holiday in El-Salvador - Costa del Balsamo, look for hotels and other accommodation in La Libertad. La Libertad has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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