El Sardinero - Primera Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Hey folks, Rusty here. It’s a quiet one on the whole for this stretch. We’ve got a run of days with barely a whisper of surf on offer, so patience is the name of the game for the first week and a bit.

Looking at the overall pattern, the swell energy is weak with combined readings staying in the double-digits (80 or less) for the first several days. It ain't gonna get you excited. The good news is the water temp is sitting at 71°, which is about 2° warmer than usual for the time of year, so nothing wild there.

The first few days, from Monday the 10th through to Wednesday the 12th, are a total write-off. Swell is tiny, around 2 ft to 2 ft from the NNW, but the real killer is the wind state and wave comment both screaming "poor surf conditions." We’ve got onshore winds and glassy spells that just aren't connecting with any worthwhile energy. Energy readings are well below 100, and we’re looking at periods around 9 seconds, so there's nothing doing.

Thursday the 13th and Friday the 14th see a slight improvement but it’s still not good enough to call surfable. The wind goes cross-offshore, which is clean, but with swell barely hitting 2 ft and energy still in the 30–70 range, you’re not catching much. Saturday the 15th brings a bit more size, up to 3 ft to 3 ft, and the energy finally cracks 100 (121) on the Saturday afternoon, but those waves are still being knocked around by messy conditions. Not worth the paddle.

We then hit a real lull from Sunday the 16th all the way through to Wednesday the 19th. It's the same story: poor surf conditions across the board, onshore or cross-onshore winds, and swell heights that are just too small or poorly aligned.

Now, there is a glimmer late in the window. Thursday morning, August 20th is the standout of the entire 16-day outlook. We’ve got a clean 3 ft swell from the NNW, but here’s the kicker: the period jumps to 11 seconds, and the combined energy slams up to 196. That’s moderate energy with decent shape. The wind is glassy – a major positive for conditions at El Sardinero - Primera, which is a sheltered spot. It's the only time in the forecast where the wave comment reads "surfable waves." For a spot that’s fairly consistent, this one morning is your window, though watch for crowds as they can be likely here.

Later on, Friday the 21st holds some similar size and a 10-second period (energy around 216–234), but the wind is more cross or cross-offshore, making it a secondary option to Thursday. By Saturday the 22nd, the energy drops back into the double-digits and we’re back to poor conditions for the remainder of the period. There is a spike on the Tuesday the 25th afternoon with a 4 ft NW swell and 272 energy, but the forecast still marks it as poor surf conditions. It’s a frustrating end.

Honestly, if you’re looking for a paddle, hold out for that Thursday 20th morning. It’s the only real chance we get.

Rusty.

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