How to Read WindGuru for Imsouane: A Surfer’s Guide to Forecasts and Conditions
By Kamal, KAZA Wave Founder — Surf Coach & Camp Owner·April 26, 2026·11 min read
WindGuru is the forecast tool most surfers in Imsouane open first thing every morning. It’s not the prettiest interface — the table looks like a 1990s spreadsheet — but it gives you the most granular, accurate data for reading the bay. This guide walks through exactly how to use it: setting up the spot, decoding each row, knowing which numbers matter, and recognizing what a “good day” looks like at Imsouane before you put the wetsuit on.
Yes. The free version of WindGuru gives you full access to the GFS, ECMWF, ICON, and WRF models for the next 7-9 days at any spot in the world. The PRO version (~€30/year) unlocks higher-resolution local models, custom alerts, and ad-free browsing — useful if you check forecasts daily, not essential for casual trip planning.
What does swell period mean on WindGuru?
Swell period (in seconds) is the time between two successive wave crests at a fixed offshore point. It indicates how much energy the swell carries. A short period (under 10 seconds) means messy windswell that closes out at the beach. A long period (12 seconds and over) means clean groundswell that organizes into a peeling wave. At Imsouane, period is the most important variable — a 4-foot 14-second day is better than a 6-foot 8-second day.
Why does Imsouane need easterly wind?
Imsouane Bay opens to the west, so westerly wind blows onto the wave face — that's onshore, choppy, and hard to surf. Easterly wind blows from the land toward the sea, which grooms the wave face into glass. Light easterly (0-10 knots) is the textbook offshore for the bay. It's also why most peak sessions happen between 6 am and 10 am — the morning land breeze is naturally easterly before the wind picks up.
About the author
Kamal, KAZA Wave Founder — Surf Coach & Camp Owner. Kamal has lived and surfed in Imsouane for over 15 years. He runs KAZA Wave Surf Camp and teaches longboard surfing to travelers from around the world.
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The Imsouane regulars — instructors, longtime guests, locals who surf every morning — overwhelmingly use WindGuru as their primary forecast. Three reasons:
Granular hourly data. WindGuru shows the forecast in 3-hour blocks (free tier) or hourly resolution (PRO). You can see wind shifting from 4 knots at 7 am to 14 knots by noon and plan your morning session accordingly. Surfline and Magicseaweed group days into vague “morning/afternoon” buckets that miss this.
Multiple weather models side-by-side. Each forecast block stacks GFS, ECMWF, ICON, and WRF — different international weather models. When they all agree, your confidence is high. When they diverge, you know to be cautious. No other free tool gives you this comparison view.
Wind accuracy. WindGuru’s wind forecast for Morocco within 48 hours is typically within 2-3 knots of actual. That’s better than any spot-specific surf service we’ve tested.
The trade-off: WindGuru is wind-and-weather oriented, not surf-focused. There’s no spoken commentary, no spot photos, no human “today is firing!” rating. You read the numbers yourself. Once you know what to look at, this is actually faster than scrolling through Surfline marketing copy.
Setting Up: Find Imsouane on WindGuru
The WindGuru forecast page for Imessouane (spot ID 49304). This is the view you’ll bookmark and check daily.
Three ways to get to the right page:
Direct URL:windguru.cz/49304 opens the Imessouane (Imsouane) spot page directly. Bookmark this — done.
Search box: on the homepage, type “Imsouane” or “Imessouane” (the historical spelling) into the search field. WindGuru lists multiple spot IDs for the area; 49304 is the canonical one most surfers reference.
Map: click “Maps” in the top nav, find Morocco, click the spot pin near coordinates 30.84°N / 9.81°W.
Adjust units before reading
By default, WindGuru shows wind in knots, wave height in meters, and temperature in °C. Most surfers are comfortable with knots (light easterly = 0-10 kt is the standard surf phrase). If you prefer m/s or feet, click “Options” in the top right and switch the units. Save the change so it sticks across sessions.
Free tier users see all the data we’ll cover below. The PRO version (~€30/year) unlocks the WRF 3km local model, custom alerts, and removes ads — worth it if you check forecasts daily, optional otherwise.
Decoding the Forecast Table — Row by Row
The full WG (WindGuru) model forecast for Imessouane. From top to bottom: dates, wind speed, gusts, wind direction, wave height, period, wave direction, temperature, cloud cover, precipitation, rating, and tide.
Each WindGuru forecast block is structured as a vertical table. Columns are time slots (3-hour blocks). Rows are data variables. Here’s what each row means:
Date / time row (top)
Day of week (Su, Mo, Tu…) plus date plus hour (00h, 03h, 06h, 09h, 12h, 15h, 18h, 21h). At Imsouane the productive surf window is typically the 06h, 09h, and 12h columns — the morning land breeze before the afternoon wind picks up.
Wind speed (knots)
The most important row. Color-coded:
Blue / cyan (0-8 knots): light, ideal. Pure glass face if direction is right.
Green (8-12 knots): manageable. Still surfable, slight chop on the wave face.
Yellow / orange (12-18 knots): getting choppy. Surfable for advanced surfers but quality drops.
Red (18+ knots): blown out. The wave loses shape entirely.
Wind gusts (knots)
Maximum gust speed. If gusts are 8 knots higher than steady wind, expect intermittent chop even on a “light” day. We watch this row to predict whether a marginal day will deteriorate fast.
Wind direction (arrows)
Arrows point in the direction the wind is going, not coming from. So an arrow pointing left (←) means wind is moving westward, which means it’s coming from the east — that’s offshore at Imsouane, exactly what you want.
The wind directions you care about, in order of preference for the bay:
E, ENE (90°-70°) — offshore, perfect.
N, NNE (0°-30°) — cross-offshore, very clean.
Calm or variable 0-3 knots — fine, no wind effect.
NW (315°) — sideshore, surfable but slightly textured.
W, WSW (260°-220°) — onshore, ragged.
SW (190°-220°) — full onshore, unsurfable.
Wave (m) — open-ocean swell height
This is the swell height measured offshore, not the wave you’ll surf. The wave at the bay is typically 60-80% of this number. So a 1.5m row means roughly 1.0-1.2m at the bay (3-4 feet). Multiply by 3.28 for feet if mental math fails you.
Wave period (s) — the underrated variable
Definition: Wave period is the time in seconds between two successive wave crests at a fixed point in deep water. Long-period swells (12s+) carry more energy and break cleaner than short-period windswell (under 10s).
Period is the variable most beginners ignore and most experts watch first. Quick rules at Imsouane:
Under 10 seconds: windswell. Mushy, weak, often closes out. Skip the session unless you’re learning.
10-12 seconds: mid-period. Decent shape, surfable, not exceptional.
12-14 seconds: the threshold. The bay starts wrapping properly. Clean walls.
14+ seconds: peak quality. Even small swells (3 ft) become rideable for 30+ second rides.
17+ seconds: rare and special. Solid groundswell, often with size.
Wave direction (arrows)
Same arrow logic as wind: pointing in the direction the swell is going. For Imsouane, you want arrows pointing roughly east-southeast (←↘), which means the swell is coming from the WNW (280°-310°).
The 280-310° band is the sweet spot. Pure W (270°) works on big days. Pure NW (315°) needs more size to wrap into the bay properly. Anything more northerly than 330° barely reaches the bay.
Temperature, cloud cover, precipitation
Less important for surf quality but useful for trip planning. Imsouane in winter (Dec-Feb) sits at 16-19°C water and 14-22°C air — a 3/2 mm wetsuit is standard. Cloud cover affects glass-off (overcast mornings stay calm longer). Precipitation at the bay is rare even in winter; if WindGuru shows rain numbers, expect a wet morning but session usually still on.
WindGuru rating (stars)
1 to 5 yellow stars per time block. The algorithm combines wind, wave height, and period. Rough translation:
1 star: bad day, don’t bother.
2 stars: marginal, advanced only.
3 stars: decent session, fun but not memorable.
4 stars: good day, worth setting your alarm for.
5 stars: firing. Block your calendar.
Caveat for Imsouane: the algorithm is generic and over-weights wave height. A 2-star long-period clean day at the bay is often better than a 4-star big-swell short-period day. Use the stars as a quick filter, but always verify by reading period and direction yourself.
Tide
Sinusoidal curve at the bottom showing high/low tide times. Imsouane works on most tides, but mid-tide on the push (rising) is generally the cleanest. Low tide can section off the inside; very high tide reduces wave size.
The 4 Numbers That Actually Matter
WindGuru shows 10+ rows. For deciding whether to paddle out, only four matter:
Number
What you want
What you don’t
Wind speed
0-10 knots
15+ knots
Wind direction
E, ENE, N (offshore)
W, WSW, SW (onshore)
Wave period
12 seconds or more
Under 10 seconds
Swell direction
280°-310° (WNW-W)
Pure N or pure SW
Wave height is secondary. A 1.0m / 14s / WNW / 5kt easterly day will outclass a 2.0m / 8s / W / 18kt onshore day every time. Period and wind direction are the tell.
What “Good” Looks Like at Imsouane
Concrete examples of green-light vs red-light forecasts:
The textbook peak day (5 stars, locals sleeping at the cliff)
Wave: 1.3m at 14s, direction 290°
Wind: 5 knots from ENE, gusts to 7
Time: 8 am, mid-tide rising
What you’ll see at the bay: glassy face, organized 4-5 ft walls running 200m down the line, 30-50 second rides if you read it right. Block 2-3 hours, expect a crowd by 9 am.
The “looks big but isn’t” trap (3 stars, skip)
Wave: 2.4m at 8s, direction 300°
Wind: 14 knots from WSW
The big number tempts you, but short period + onshore wind = closeouts and chop. You’ll catch one wave and waste your morning. Save your back for tomorrow.
The hidden gem (2 stars, locals quietly stoked)
Wave: 0.8m at 16s, direction 285°
Wind: 2 knots from E
The algorithm under-rates this because the height is small. In reality: pure long-period groundswell, glass face, 2-3 ft point-break walls. Longboarders’ favorite. You’ll have the bay nearly to yourself.
Reading the Graph View
The Graph view. Colored mountains = wave size with period color-coding (warmer = longer period). Black line = wind speed. Sinusoidal curve = tide. Background gradient = atmospheric pressure.
Click the “Graph” button on the WG model to switch from table to graph view. It’s the same data, but visually you can spot patterns at a glance:
Colored “mountains” at the top show wave height + period combined. Tall + warm color (yellow/orange) = big and long-period = quality. Short + blue = mushy windswell. Look for the warmest, tallest peaks of the week — those are your sessions.
Black line in the middle tracks wind speed. Stays low all morning then jumps after noon? Standard Imsouane pattern — surf early.
Tide curve at the bottom with high/low markers and centimeter values. Note the times for your morning sessions.
Background gradient represents atmospheric pressure. Sharp drops often signal incoming swell.
The graph view is fastest for spotting the 1-2 standout days in a 7-day window. Once you’ve identified them, switch back to the table for hour-by-hour planning of those days.
Multi-Model Comparison: Which to Trust?
Below the WG (default) model, WindGuru stacks several alternative forecasts. Each block is the same spot, but generated by a different international weather model. Quick guide:
Model
Resolution
Strength for Morocco
GFS 13
13 km
Default, reliable up to 4 days
IFS-HRES 9 (ECMWF)
9 km
Best for swell direction at 2-5 days
IFS-WAM 9
9 km
Wave-specific ECMWF, very accurate period
WRF 9 / WRF 3 (PRO)
9 km / 3 km
Best local wind around the bay
ICON 7
7 km
Good agreement with GFS, useful as cross-check
EWAM 5
5 km
European wave model, very accurate for swell arrival
The local pattern: most regulars glance at GFS first, then check ECMWF (IFS-HRES) and WRF for confirmation. When all three agree on direction and period, the forecast is reliable. When they disagree by more than 2 seconds in period or 30° in direction, the day is uncertain — re-check 24 hours before.
Daily Workflow for a 7-Day Trip
Here’s the routine our coaches use during a guest’s stay:
Day 0 (arrival, evening): Open WindGuru, scan the 7-day Graph view. Identify the 1-2 prime swell windows of the week. Note them on your phone.
Each morning at 6:30 am: Check the table for current hour and next 3 hours. Decide: paddle out now, wait for tide, or take a rest day. Cross-check actual conditions from the cliffside before suiting up — forecasts can be 1-2 hours off.
Each evening: Re-check tomorrow’s hourly forecast. Re-confirm or adjust your morning plan. Bedtime by 10 pm to be sharp at 6:30.
Mid-week (day 3-4): The 6th and 7th day predictions become more reliable. Re-rank the remaining sessions in your week.
Don’t trust day 6-7 from day 1. Those numbers are statistical guesses. Treat them as preliminary; re-check 48 hours out.
Common Pitfalls (and How to Avoid Them)
Reading wave height in isolation. “It’s 2 meters tomorrow!” means nothing without period and wind. A 2m / 8s / onshore day is junk; a 1m / 16s / offshore day is gold. Always read all four numbers together.
Confusing wind direction (FROM vs TO). WindGuru arrows point in the direction the wind is going (TO). Easterly wind = arrow pointing west = ← coming FROM the east. This trips up everyone the first month. Anchor it: arrows show where wind is heading, not where it comes from.
Trusting day-7 predictions. Past day 5, model accuracy drops sharply. Plan loosely, re-check daily.
Believing the stars over the data. WindGuru’s automated rating misreads Imsouane regularly. Always verify period and direction manually for any day you’re considering.
Picking the wrong column. The 09h column shows the forecast for 9 am, not “from 9 am to noon.” If you paddle out at 10 am, look at the 09h column (your nearest data point) and the 12h column to see how conditions shift during your session.
Ignoring offshore wind upstream. Strong wind 200km offshore degrades the swell before it arrives at the bay, even if your local forecast is calm. Glance at Windy for the synoptic chart to spot this.
When to Cross-Reference Other Tools
WindGuru handles 90% of forecast decisions, but for trip-planning beyond 5 days or for understanding why a swell is coming, cross-reference these:
Windy.com: visual swell-pattern maps. Useful for understanding which Atlantic storm will produce next week’s swell.
Surfline: human commentary and webcam (paid). Useful for “is the bay actually firing right now” verification when you can’t see it from the cliff.
Buoyweather: live buoy data showing actual swell as it passes the offshore stations. Useful for verifying that a forecasted swell has actually arrived.
For a deeper dive into swell variables and how Imsouane’s geometry filters them, see our wave forecasting 101 guide. For the seasonal patterns of when these conditions actually occur, see best time to surf Imsouane.
Want our coach’s read on tomorrow’s forecast for your booked dates? Send us a message with your arrival date and we’ll send you the historical wave-quality data for that week, plus the current 7-day outlook with our local interpretation.
Final Takeaway
Reading WindGuru well is the cheapest skill in surf travel. Five minutes of forecast literacy can be the difference between catching the session of your trip and standing on the cliff watching it go off. The pattern at Imsouane is unusually predictable — the same NW-Atlantic storm cycle delivers swell every week from October to April, and WindGuru shows you exactly when it lands.
Bookmark windguru.cz/49304, install the app, and check it every morning. After two weeks you’ll read it as fluently as the locals. Pair the forecast skill with a stay at our camp — where the cliffside view is 30 seconds from the door and our coaches translate the numbers into “today, paddle out at 7:15” — and you’ll have the kind of sessions that explain why people keep coming back to this bay.
How accurate is the WindGuru rating system (the stars)?
WindGuru's star rating is a generic algorithm that combines wind, wave height, and period. For Imsouane, the rating tends to over-rate big-swell days with strong wind and under-rate small-swell long-period days that actually shine. Locals use it as a quick visual filter (more stars = generally better) but always verify by reading wind direction and period manually. Don't book a session based on stars alone.
Which weather model on WindGuru is most reliable for Morocco?
GFS 13km is the default and works well for Imsouane up to 4 days out. ECMWF (IFS-HRES 9km) is more accurate for swell direction at 2-5 days. WRF 9 is the highest-resolution model for local wind around Imsouane Bay specifically. Compare 2-3 models before a session — when they agree, confidence is high. When they diverge, treat the forecast with caution.
How do I convert WindGuru wave height to actual beach wave height?
WindGuru shows the open-ocean swell height measured offshore. The wave you actually surf at Imsouane Bay is typically 60-80% of that number. So a 1.5-meter (5-foot) swell on WindGuru produces roughly 1-1.2 meter (3-4 foot) waves at the bay. The exact ratio depends on swell direction: a clean WNW swell wraps efficiently and gives you closer to 80%, while a more northerly swell loses more energy.
Can I use WindGuru on my phone?
Yes — there's a WindGuru mobile app (iOS and Android) and the website is mobile-responsive. The app is faster for daily forecast checks. Bookmark your spot ID (Imessouane is 49304) so you don't have to search every time. Most surfers at Imsouane open the app first thing every morning to see what the wind is doing.
What do the colors on the WindGuru table mean?
The colors are speed-based heat maps. For wind speed: blue/cyan = light (under 10 knots, ideal), green/yellow = moderate (10-15 knots, getting choppy), red = strong (over 20 knots, blown out). For wave height: a similar gradient marks size. For period: longer period rows are highlighted to draw attention. Once you know the color logic, you can scan a 7-day forecast in 5 seconds.
How to Read WindGuru for Imsouane: A Surfer’s Guide to Forecasts and Conditions | KAZA Wave Blog | KAZA Wave Surf Camp
