El Quemao
Spain · Canary Islands
Right now
DrizzleWind and swell direction
Swell: 1.3m N
Wind: 16 km/h NNW (cross-onshore)
Beach faces: WNW
Cross-onshore wind. Wave faces are getting chopped up, conditions are average.
Swell is coming in at an oblique angle, some refraction expected.
Today hour by hour
Updated 08:42Expected crowds
Prediction model v17amMidweek quiet
Next 7 days
Forecast via Open-MeteoWhat to pack
- 3/2mm wetsuit or spring suit for 19°C water.
- Standard shortboard conditions.
- Rain jacket for between sessions.
Today's briefing
1.5m swell at 6s on a short period. Onshore wind creating some chop. Water temperature 19°C.
AI-generated summary for El Quemao. Always check local reports before heading out.
Forecast accuracy at El Quemao
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 9am (score: 28). Conditions are below the Good threshold but may still be surfable.
Nearby spots right now
Crowd report
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Session journal
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Create free accountTide
Approximate modelBest on mid-high tide
Swell 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 Quemao.
What's driving it
Recent form
Last 3 days of logged conditions.
About El Quemao
El Quemao is an incredibly dangerous, world-class reef break located near the village of La Santa on the north-western coast of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. Frequently compared to Pipeline, the bathymetry features an exceptionally shallow, highly irregular volcanic rock shelf that borders a deep-water channel. When massive north-westerly winter groundswells strike this sudden transition, the ocean heaves violently, producing an enormously thick, square-shaped plunging lip. The wave offers a treacherous left-hand barrel and an equally perilous, albeit shorter, right. A south-easterly offshore wind holds the immense lip open. Due to the extreme hydraulic weight, the near-vertical take-off, and the severe proximity of the razor-sharp volcanic rock mere centimetres beneath the surface, El Quemao is strictly reserved for elite, professional-level surfers. It is a highly technical, high-consequence arena where mistakes guarantee severe injury or equipment destruction, demanding total commitment and absolute mastery of heavy-water tube riding.
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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 Quemao. 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 Quemao?
Check our timing score heatmap above for a week-by-week breakdown combining surf conditions with crowd pressure.