Cabarete Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you – the outlook for Cabarete over this whole stretch is a tough one to write. We're looking at a long, drawn-out period of cross-onshore winds and short-period windswell, and the conditions just aren't cooperating for a proper surf session. Honestly, for the next couple of weeks, the setup is more interesting for a kiteboarder than a paddle surfer.

It kicks off on Monday, the 6th of July, with a moderate cross-onshore breeze from the east at 16 mph. The swell is a meagre 5 ft from the east with a short period of 7 seconds, making for a choppy, lumpy mess. The combined energy is weak, sitting at 184. Water temp is a warm 83°, which is about normal for the time of year, but you won't be enjoying it much with these conditions.

The pattern doesn't let up. Tuesday through the rest of the week, and right into the following week, it's the same story: persistent easterly winds, mostly at 16 to 22 mph, keeping the sea blown-out and unappealing. The swell size bounces between 3 ft and 6 ft, all short-period windswell. The wave energy creeps up to a moderate 359 on Thursday the 9th, but it's all messy, cross-onshore junk.

There is a brief flicker of hope on Sunday the 19th of July. For the morning, the wind turns onshore from the ENE at 12 mph, which is the cleanest we’ll see it. The swell is just 4 ft from the east with a period of 7 seconds. It’s still not great, and with the energy down at 140, it’s the only time where you could possibly find a scrappy little wave at the reef. Even then, it's far from a standout.

The bottom line? There are no good surfing options in this 16-day window. The forecast is consistently poor, and for this area, a blank run like this, while frustrating, is more normal than you'd hope. We're stuck in a rut of easterly trade winds that just won't let up. Keep an eye on the charts, 'cause it tends not to stay this poor for long, but for now, I'd leave the board at home.

Rusty.

Read more