El Palmar
Spain · Atlantic Europe
Right now
OvercastWind and swell direction
Swell: 0.5m SW
Wind: 32 km/h E (offshore)
Beach faces: WSW
Offshore wind (blowing from land to sea). Ideal conditions, holding up wave faces for cleaner surf.
Swell is arriving at a great angle for this beach.
Today hour by hour
Updated 08:39Expected crowds
Prediction model v17amMidweek quiet
Next 7 days
Forecast via Open-MeteoWhat to pack
- 3/2mm wetsuit or spring suit for 18°C water.
- Small waves expected. Longboard or fish to make the most of it.
- Strong winds on some days. Check the forecast each morning.
Today's briefing
0.6m swell at 11s. Onshore wind creating some chop. Water temperature 18°C.
AI-generated summary for El Palmar. Always check local reports before heading out.
Forecast accuracy at El Palmar
Not enough data yet. Log a session to help build the accuracy score.
Best time to go
No great windows in the next 2 days
Best available option is Tomorrow around 8am (score: 2). Conditions are below the Good threshold but may still be surfable.
Crowd report
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Session journal
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Create free accountTide
Approximate modelSwell forecast
7-day forecastDaily score breakdown
This week is looking below average for late April.
Comparing the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at El Palmar.
What's driving it
Recent form
Last 3 days of logged conditions.
About El Palmar
El Palmar is an expansive, highly exposed beach break located in Andalusia, on the south-western Atlantic coast of Spain. The bathymetry is defined by a wide, relatively flat expanse of compacted silica sand that spans several kilometres. This uniform gradient captures westerly and north-westerly Atlantic groundswells, dissipating the energy to create multiple, shifting A-frame peaks. The break requires an easterly offshore wind to groom the face and counteract the frequently disorganised sea state. Because the sandy bottom slopes gently, the waves generally spill rather than plunge, offering soft, manageable faces. This highly forgiving structure makes El Palmar an exceptional training ground for beginner and intermediate surfers. Novices can exploit the slow-rolling whitewater reform sections, whilst intermediate riders can navigate the unbroken green walls outside to practice fundamental carving manoeuvres. The sheer size of the beach ensures that crowds remain dispersed, providing a consistent, low-consequence environment for progressive surfing development.
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Create Profile →Frequently asked questions
How often is this page updated?
Current conditions refresh every 6 hours when the cron runs. Hourly data updates every 30 minutes. The 7-day forecast, luck factor, and packing notes are all pre-computed at the same time.
What is the luck factor?
We compare the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at El Palmar. The delta tells you whether conditions are shaping up better, worse, or about the same as a typical late April.
How is 'best session' picked?
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Where does the data come from?
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Does the score capture local knowledge?
Honestly, no. Every break has tide windows, swell directions and reef contours that a global model cannot see. Treat the score as a starting point, then check a local cam.
When is the best time to surf El Palmar?
Check our timing score heatmap above for a week-by-week breakdown combining surf conditions with crowd pressure.