Surf Forecasts:
Las Urracas surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 11s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 13s period, SW swell with 673 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 11s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Las Urracas this week:
The surf forecast for Las Urracas over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Las Urracas in the next 16 days are 1.4m 13s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (-04) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Las Urracas over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Las Urracas.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this is a slow period. The first week and a half is pretty average, with a lot of marginal days and poor conditions. There’s a real gap from the start until about the 18th where we’re just not getting anything clean. The water is sitting at 65°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you won’t need a thick suit.
The first real standout comes on Monday the 17th of August, afternoon. The wind swings around to a light cross-offshore from the north, and we’ve got a 3ft SW swell with a solid 14-second period. That’s a long-period groundswell, and for a reef break like this, it’ll line up nicely. The combined energy is moderate at 418. It’s not huge, but it’ll be clean.
Then, Tuesday the 18th of August, afternoon – this is the pick of the whole run. The wind drops to glassy, dead calm from the south, and we’ve got a 3ft SW swell, 13-second period, with moderate energy at 487. The conditions are glassy, meaning the surface will be like a mirror. For a reef break, this is as good as it gets. It’s an intermediate wave, so if you’re at that level, this is your moment.
Thursday the 20th of August is another one to circle. Both morning and afternoon are glassy, with a 5ft SW swell. The period is short at 8 seconds, so it’s a windswell, not a groundswell. The energy is still strong at 580 and 509. The wave height is pushing over 5ft, so it’s a step up in size, but still manageable for confident intermediates. The glassy conditions will make it smooth.
After that, the energy drops away. The 21st and 22nd have some small, glassy windows with 2ft to 3ft SW swells, but it’s definitely winding down. By the 24th, it’s pretty well flat and poor. The 26th of August afternoon has a tiny 1ft WSW swell with a very long 18-second period and glassy conditions, but it’s a whisper. The 27th sees a spike in energy (600) but with poor cross-onshore winds and a 3ft WSW swell – not worth paddling out for.
Honestly, if you’re looking for the best on offer, aim for the 18th afternoon. That glassy, clean, long-period groundswell on a reef is what dreams are made of. The 20th is a solid second option if you want a bit more size, but the short period means it won’t have the same push.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Wed afternoon, min 17°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat morning, min 16°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
287 | 243 | 154 | 349 | 600 | 515 | 573 | 503 | 412 | 390 | 444 | 290 | 258 | 214 | 360 | 373 | 357 | 350 | 518 | 295 | 331 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-off | cross | on | glassy | cross |
High Tide | 8:44AM1.52m | 9:10PM0.99m | 9:30AM1.51m | 9:57PM1.04m | 10:13AM1.47m | 10:43PM1.09m | 10:55AM1.39m | 11:28PM1.11m | 11:37AM1.28m | 00:15AM1.13m | 12:19PM1.15m | 1:04AM1.13m | 1:03PM1.02m | 1:58AM1.12m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:31PM0.25m | 2:51AM0.26m | 4:12PM0.23m | 3:41AM0.26m | 4:51PM0.23m | 4:31AM0.29m | 5:28PM0.25m | 5:22AM0.35m | 6:05PM0.29m | 6:15AM0.42m | 6:42PM0.34m | 7:14AM0.50m | 7:21PM0.40m | ||||||||
7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | |
— | 6:25 | — | — | 6:27 | — | — | 6:27 | — | — | 6:27 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 18 |
Feels °C | 20 | 22 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SSW 10 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 10 | SW 13 |
122 | 140 | 93 | 192 | 600 | 515 | 573 | 503 | 412 | 390 | 444 | 237 | 258 | 196 | 360 | 373 | 357 | 350 | 518 | 177 | 331 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SW 18 | SSW 10 | SW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | SW 8 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SW 8 | SW 8 | — | SW 13 | SW 9 |
287 | 243 | 154 | 349 | 151 | 86 | 53 | 53 | 30 | 26 | 16 | 290 | 142 | 183 | 123 | 81 | 58 | 33 | — | 295 | 125 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 21 | WSW 21 | SW 19 | SSW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 8 | SW 17 | SW 16 | S 8 | W 13 | W 13 | — | — | SW 20 | SW 18 |
18 | 43 | 133 | 72 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 137 | 214 | 1 | 3 | 3 | — | — | 15 | 50 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Tarapaca | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Chile | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Las Urracas Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Las Urracas provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Las Urracas can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Las Urracas 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 (Las Urracas) 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 Las Urracas 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 Tarapaca? If you are looking for accommodation near Las Urracas, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Tarapaca, consider staying in Iquique which is 4 km (2 miles) away. Alternatively, find information about places to stay and car hire in Patillos which is 58 km (36 miles) away











