Surf Forecasts:
El Sardinero - Primera surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 12s period, NW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 12s period, NNW swell with 756 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 16 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period with NNW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for El Sardinero - Primera this week:
The surf forecast for El Sardinero - Primera over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at El Sardinero - Primera in the next 16 days are 1.7m 12s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Sardinero - Primera over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s on the table for El Sardinero – Primera.
Right off the bat, it’s a quiet start. The first week is pretty much a write-off, so don’t bother checking the cams. We’re looking at a solid 6-day gap of nothing worth paddling out for. The wind is all over the place, mostly cross-off or cross, but the swell is tiny and weak. The combined wave energy barely cracks 100 (maxes out at 157 on the 16th), and with periods under 8 seconds, it’s just messy, short-period windswill. The water is sitting at 72°, about 2° warmer than usual for this time of year, which is nice for a swim but not for surfing.
Things finally start to wake up on Thursday the 20th. The morning is still a bit of a gamble with a 6ft swell from the NNW, but it’s got a proper 11-second period, so there’s some real energy behind it. The combined energy jumps to 894, which is a solid punch. The wind is light and cross, so sets might be a bit walled, but it’s not a total loss. The real standout, though, is Thursday afternoon. The wind swings to a cross-off from the WNW, and the swell settles to a clean 5ft from the NW, still with that 11-second pulse. Energy drops to 518, but the conditions are clean. This is your window.
The best of the whole run looks like Friday the 21st morning. We’re talking glassy conditions, a 5ft swell from the NNW, and a 10-second period. The energy is at 446. It’s a solid head-high, clean, and offshore. This is the one to circle in the calendar. The afternoon gets blown out as the wind turns onshore, so get it done early.
After that, it fades again. The 25th sees a spike in size (8ft from the NW), but with cross-on wind and a 9-second period, it’s a choppy, messy mess. That’s too big for beginners and the wind ruins it for everyone else. The very end of the run, the 28th, has a 3ft NW swell with 9-second period and cross-off wind, but it’s not the quality of that Friday morning.
If you’re looking for a solid day, Thursday the 20th afternoon and Friday the 21st morning are the only real standouts. The crowds are *often* here, so expect company on the clean waves.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 23°C on Thu afternoon, min 20°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Tue afternoon, min 19°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 10 | NW 12 | WNW 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 | N 6 | N 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | WNW 8 | N 4 | N 4 | NNW 6 | NW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
18 | 69 | 69 | 46 | 42 | 41 | 43 | 76 | 62 | 101 | 157 | 93 | 45 | 68 | 33 | 14 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 144 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | glassy | on | cross-off | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 6:01PM4.46m | 6:19AM4.15m | 6:41PM4.48m | 6:56AM4.10m | 7:20PM4.38m | 7:32AM3.97m | 7:57PM4.18m | 8:07AM3.78m | 8:34PM3.90m | 8:43AM3.55m | 9:13PM3.58m | 9:23AM3.30m | 9:57PM3.26m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:42AM0.31m | 00:11AM0.32m | 12:21PM0.23m | 00:50AM0.37m | 12:59PM0.26m | 1:27AM0.52m | 1:36PM0.40m | 2:03AM0.73m | 2:12PM0.62m | 2:39AM0.99m | 2:51PM0.91m | 3:17AM1.27m | 3:32PM1.23m | 4:03AM1.53m | |||||||
7:16 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | |
— | — | 9:22 | — | — | 9:20 | — | — | 9:19 | — | — | 9:16 | — | — | 9:15 | — | — | 9:14 | — | — | 9:13 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
Temp °C | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 22 |
Feels °C | 24 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | NW 12 | WNW 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 | N 5 | N 6 | N 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 5 | N 4 | N 4 | NE 3 | NW 13 |
18 | 69 | 69 | 46 | 42 | 20 | 43 | 76 | 62 | 101 | 157 | 93 | 45 | 68 | 33 | 14 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 144 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 6 | N 6 | NNW 4 | — | — | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | N 7 | — | — | NW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | N 8 | N 7 | E 3 | ENE 3 | NNW 6 | NNE 3 |
4 | 7 | 1 | — | — | 41 | 38 | 45 | 24 | 15 | — | — | 15 | 28 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 13 | N 7 | — | — | — | N 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 10 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NNW 5 |
16 | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | — | — | N 4 | — |
— | — | — | 2 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | 1 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 138 | 21 | 13 | 21 | 21 | 13 | 3 | 22 | 21 | 0 | 22 | 13 | 8 | 22 | 13 | 13 | 453 | 447 | 453 | 432 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Spain - Cantabria | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Spain (Europe) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Information about the El Sardinero - Primera Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for El Sardinero - Primera provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at El Sardinero - Primera can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our El Sardinero - Primera 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 Sardinero - Primera) 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 Sardinero - Primera 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 Sardinero - Primera is 9 km (6 miles) from the city of El Astillero. If you plan a holiday in Spain - Cantabria, look for hotels and other accommodation in El Astillero. El Astillero has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











