The prevailing wind in El Medano is the north-east trade wind that is at its strongest in July and August. It is the most likely wind when sunny and stable conditions prevail over the Canary Islands.

However, when there are low pressure areas around the islands, the flow of air which generates the north-east trade winds can be disturbed, and winds can blow from the other quadrants. When this happens, El Medano will experience winds from the south-east (onshore) and south-west (side-shore and cross-off), or from the west (offshore), which are generally less strong than the trade winds at no more than 20 knots.
North-East Wind

This is the most common wind direction in El Médano that is windsurfed 90% of the time, and is side-onshore from the left. There is a further acceleration of this wind due to mount Teide. Some of the air that hits Mount Teide goes over the mountain, but the vast majority will be compressed and accelerates around it. This results in at least a five knot higher wind speed in El Médano compared to that found in the north of the island. However, as El Medano expands in its development, every additional building makes the wind near the shore a little bit more gusty and unreliable. Nevertheless, once you get out about 30-50 metres you will get pretty constant winds with smooth ocean waves.
West Wind
It is pretty rare that a westerly wind blows at El Medano. With this direction the wind blows offshore at South Bay and El Cabezo Bay. The westerly wind is partially disturbed in South Bay by Montana Roja which makes the wind gusty. It does however provide flat conditions ideal for slalom sailing and freestyle. This is much better than El Cabezo Bay, because the buildings of El Medano town stop the wind entering the bay which therefore becomes more or less un-sailable.

One benefit with a westerly wind in South Bay is that if there happens to be a south swell running (typically after a storm) there will be long and tidy waves rolling into the bay, providing clean side-shore wave sailing conditions. When this happens South Bay can become busy with lots of windsurfers, kitesurfers and surfers all in the one spot.

South Wind

A  south-westerly wind again is rare, but gusty due to Montana Roja. The water will be flat and the wind cross to cross-onshore at the launch spot in South Bay. It is therefore ideal for freestyle.

If there is a south swell coinciding with south-westerly winds however, then there can be up to mast high waves that provide long runs with up to six frontside turns. Providing the waves are not too big, they are ideal for wave sailing beginners, as long as the shore break is not too big. When there is a south swell, the waves will be even bigger at El Cabezo Bay. The wind will be the least gusty at the Harbour Wall which can work well in a south-westerly which is side shore form the right.

A south to south-easterly wind will provide cross-onshore to onshore winds, and with a southerly swell can also  bring big waves into El Medano.

North Wind

If the wind comes from the north, both the bays in El Medano are sheltered by Mount Teide directly to the north, and there is therefore calm and no sailing.