10-day surf forecast with Strike Scores for Massawa, Northern Red Sea, Eritrea
Massawa represents the absolute frontier of Red Sea surfing—an ancient port city in Eritrea where winter monsoon winds occasionally generate short-period swells along the African coast. The waves are small and inconsistent, but the setting is extraordinary: Italian colonial architecture, coral reefs, and the sense of surfing somewhere completely off the radar. Access is challenging due to Eritrea's isolation, but for adventurous travelers who find themselves in this historic port, the Red Sea occasionally provides unexpected waves.
Best day in the forecast: 2026-08-07 with a score of 5/100 (Poor)
Poor conditions overall: Average score 1/100. Look for spots with better forecasts.
Poor alignment: Swell from 2° is 48° off optimal 50°, barely within workable range 20°-80°.
Too small: 0.2m is below minimum 0.5m. Waves will be weak/mushy.
Short period: 5s is below minimum 6s. Windswell-dominated (choppy, weak waves).
Onshore/cross-shore: 13 km/h from 73° (ENE). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 230°-310°.
Groundswell-dominant conditions (clean, long-period waves).
Poor conditions at Massawa. Either swell direction (2°), size (0.2m), or wind (13 km/h from 73°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
0.2m (0.7ft) swell from 2° (N) at 5s period
Onshore/cross-shore: 17 km/h from 52° (NE). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 230°-310°.
Poor conditions at Massawa. Either swell direction (2°), size (0.2m), or wind (17 km/h from 52°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
Poor alignment: Swell from 357° is 53° off optimal 50°, barely within workable range 20°-80°.
Too small: 0.4m is below minimum 0.5m. Waves will be weak/mushy.
Moderate period: 7s meets minimum 6s but below ideal 8s. Some groundswell energy present.
Onshore/cross-shore: 20 km/h from 78° (ENE). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 230°-310°.
Poor conditions at Massawa. Either swell direction (357°), size (0.4m), or wind (20 km/h from 78°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
0.4m (1.3ft) swell from 357° (N) at 7s period
Poor alignment: Swell from 355° is 55° off optimal 50°, barely within workable range 20°-80°.
Moderate period: 6s meets minimum 6s but below ideal 8s. Some groundswell energy present.
Onshore/cross-shore: 15 km/h from 100° (E). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 230°-310°.
Poor conditions at Massawa. Either swell direction (355°), size (0.4m), or wind (15 km/h from 100°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
0.4m (1.3ft) swell from 355° (N) at 6s period
Too small: 0.3m is below minimum 0.5m. Waves will be weak/mushy.
Onshore/cross-shore: 14 km/h from 81° (E). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 230°-310°.
Poor conditions at Massawa. Either swell direction (357°), size (0.3m), or wind (14 km/h from 81°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
0.3m (1.0ft) swell from 357° (N) at 5s period
Poor alignment: Swell from 359° is 51° off optimal 50°, barely within workable range 20°-80°.
Short period: 4s is below minimum 6s. Windswell-dominated (choppy, weak waves).
Onshore/cross-shore: 11 km/h from 81° (E). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 230°-310°.
Poor conditions at Massawa. Either swell direction (359°), size (0.2m), or wind (11 km/h from 81°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
0.2m (0.7ft) swell from 359° (N) at 4s period
Onshore/cross-shore: 10 km/h from 54° (NE). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 230°-310°.
Poor conditions at Massawa. Either swell direction (359°), size (0.2m), or wind (10 km/h from 54°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
Poor alignment: Swell from 0° is 50° off optimal 50°, barely within workable range 20°-80°.
Onshore/cross-shore: 13 km/h from 125° (SE). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 230°-310°.
Poor conditions at Massawa. Either swell direction (0°), size (0.2m), or wind (13 km/h from 125°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
0.2m (0.7ft) swell from 0° (N) at 4s period
Very low confidence (8-10 day forecast, conditions may change)
Poor alignment: Swell from 356° is 54° off optimal 50°, barely within workable range 20°-80°.
Onshore/cross-shore: 13 km/h from 90° (E). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 230°-310°.
Poor conditions at Massawa. Either swell direction (356°), size (0.3m), or wind (13 km/h from 90°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
0.3m (1.0ft) swell from 356° (N) at 5s period
Poor alignment: Swell from 353° is 57° off optimal 50°, barely within workable range 20°-80°.
Too small: 0.1m is below minimum 0.5m. Waves will be weak/mushy.
Onshore/cross-shore: 13 km/h from 104° (ESE). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 230°-310°.
Poor conditions at Massawa. Either swell direction (353°), size (0.1m), or wind (13 km/h from 104°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
0.1m (0.3ft) swell from 353° (N) at 5s period
Open-Meteo Weather API (wind/weather data)