Cabarete Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get the local skinny on what’s heading our way.

Honestly, it’s a tough stretch ahead for Cabarete. The entire 16-day window is a bit of a write-off for paddle surfing, with a long, frustrating gap of poor conditions from the get-go. The first real glimmer of anything close to surfable doesn't appear until the morning of Monday, September 7th, and even that’s a marginal call.

The big problem is the persistent cross-onshore wind from the East. It’s relentless, turning what could be a fun wave into a lumpy, choppy mess. The wave energy is just not there consistently, and the wind direction is all wrong.

The only period that’s worth a second look is Monday morning, September 7th, and the Monday afternoon, September 7th. The swell is coming from the East at around 3 ft, with a period of 9-10 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (172 and 239), and the winds are light, which is a huge improvement from the rest of the forecast. The wind is still cross-onshore, but at 6 mph, it’s light enough that the surf could clean up. It’s a real "wait and see" situation, but it’s the only window where the score isn't a complete zero. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

Before that, from August 31st all the way through the afternoon of September 6th, it’s a total no-go. Strong onshore winds and weak, short-period swell make for horrible conditions. The morning of Monday, August 31st had a 7 ft East swell (901 energy) and glassy conditions—that would have been the standout. But it’s already passed us by.

After that Monday window, the wind just picks right back up again. The following Tuesday (September 8th) morning has light winds again, but the swell is weak and the period is short. It’s the same story for the rest of the second week: cross-onshore winds and poor surf. The swell is mostly from the East, which is not the optimum direction for this exposed reef break, and the period never gets long enough to overcome the wind.

Bottom line: if you’re a surfer, take the next two weeks off. The only real chance to get wet is the morning of Monday, September 7th, and even that’s a long shot. For everyone else, the strong, consistent East wind and the beach setup here make this a much better window for kiteboarding than paddle surfing.

Rusty.

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