Essaouira
Morocco · North Africa
Right now
OvercastWind and swell direction
Swell: 1.2m NNW
Wind: 7 km/h NE (cross-offshore)
Beach faces: W
Very light wind. Expect glassy, clean conditions.
Swell direction is a decent angle for this beach.
Today hour by hour
Updated 08:41Expected crowds
Prediction model v17amMidweek quiet
Next 7 days
Forecast via Open-MeteoWhat to pack
- 3/2mm wetsuit or spring suit for 18°C water.
- Standard shortboard conditions.
Today's briefing
1.4m swell at 6s on a short period. Moderate winds. Water temperature 18°C.
AI-generated summary for Essaouira. Always check local reports before heading out.
Forecast accuracy at Essaouira
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 Today around 9am (score: 24). 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 modelSwell forecast
7-day forecastDaily score breakdown
This week is looking slightly below average for late April.
Comparing the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Essaouira.
What's driving it
Recent form
Last 3 days of logged conditions.
About Essaouira
Essaouira is a broad, highly sheltered beach break situated on the central coastline of Morocco, primarily known globally for strong trade winds. The bathymetry features an expansive, exceedingly flat gradient of compacted sand curving within a protected bay. The nearby -le de Mogador acts as a massive natural breakwater, heavily diffracting and filtering large north-westerly Atlantic swells before they reach the beach. A north-easterly wind provides the optimal offshore conditions, though the area frequently suffers from intense onshore gales. When conditions align, the waves within the bay are exceptionally soft, slow-rolling, and lack steepness, crumbling gently over the flat sand. These forgiving mechanics render Essaouira an ideal location for absolute beginner surfers. The lack of heavy impact zones or strong undertows provides a safe, low-consequence environment for novices to practice basic balance, pop-ups, and straightforward whitewater riding. It rarely offers the speed or wall required for advanced surfing manoeuvres.
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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 Essaouira. 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 Essaouira?
Check our timing score heatmap above for a week-by-week breakdown combining surf conditions with crowd pressure.