Cabarete Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the menu for the Dominican Republic.

Honestly, I gotta be straight with you – the next 16 days look like a tough stretch for any decent paddle surfing. The wind is locked in from the east, blowing straight across the beach at Cabarete, and that’s just not gonna give us the clean, groomed faces we’re after. The swell is small and weak, coming from the east, and the wind is always cross-onshore. It’s going to be choppy and lumpy almost every single day. The water temperature is sitting at 85°, which is about 1° warmer than normal for this time of year – nothing crazy, just a little toastier than usual.

The first few days, from Thursday the 3rd right through to the end of the first week, are a write-off. Swell heights are tiny, mostly under 3 ft, and the combined wave energy is pitifully low, often under 100 (63, 98, 30). It’s just not worth paddling out for.

As we move into the second week, around the 10th and 11th of September, the swell does start to show a little more life. We see heights creeping up to 4 ft to 5 ft, and the combined energy hits 217 to 245 (moderate wave energy). But the trade-off is the wind stays strong and from the east, still cross-onshore, so that extra push is just going to make for lumpier, messier conditions. The period is short, around 7 seconds, so you’re getting windswell, not any real groundswell.

By the 17th and 18th of September, the swell drops right back down. There’s a tiny pulse from the northeast on the 17th with a period of 12 seconds, but the swell height is only 1 ft and the wind is still ruining it. The energy is barely 67. It’s a tease.

Look, Cabarete is a reef break that’s consistent and exposed, but it’s optimised for a northeast swell and offshore southwest winds. We’re getting the exact opposite: east swell and east wind. It’s not the spot’s fault. The best thing I can say is that if you are desperate for a splash, the 12th of September shows a little cross-shore wind from the southeast, which might be the least ugly option, but it’s still not good. Honestly, this whole 16-day stretch is a good time to check the kiteboarding forecast – the cross-onshore wind and moderate swell setup is far more interesting for them than for us paddle surfers. There’s just nothing to recommend for a surf. Forecasts can change, but right now, this is a blank run.

Rusty.

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