Cabarete Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. We’ve got a full 16-day window ahead, but I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – the surf outlook for Cabarete is a tough one. There’s not a single recommendation in the pack, and the whole period is basically a write-off for a proper paddle session. We’re looking at a solid two weeks of poor surf conditions, day after day, with no standout windows to get excited about.

The problem is the wind. Day in, day out, we’ve got a cross-onshore breeze hammering the break. It’s coming from the east and east-northeast, mostly between 9 mph and 22 mph. That’s a moderate to fresh breeze, and it’s making the ocean lumpy, choppy, and generally messy. The swell is all from the east, with periods between 5 and 11 seconds, so it’s a mix of short-period windswell and a bit of longer-period groundswell later on. But the wind just ruins it.

The wave energy is weak to moderate at best for most of the run. For example, the combined energy for the morning of the 19th of August is only 75, and it’s a struggle to crack 100 on many days. There’s a spike around the 25th of August, when the swell height hits 6 ft to 8 ft, and the energy jumps to 443 and then 1072 (strong energy). That sounds big, but the wind is still cross-onshore, and the surf report flags it all as “poor surf conditions.” With that much wind on a 6 ft to 8 ft swell, it’s going to be a windblown mess. At that size, this is strictly for experts, and even then, it’s going to be a battle.

The only glimmer of hope is the morning of the 27th of August, where we get a brief moment of onshore wind from the east-northeast at 9 mph, with a 5 ft swell from the east. The energy is 292 – moderate – and the period is 8 seconds. But even then, the report says “poor surf conditions.” It’s a small window of cleaner conditions, but the swell is still short-period and the onshore wind won’t be perfect.

The water temperature? It’s average for the time of year, no major anomaly, so you’re not getting any thermal help.

Honestly, with this constant cross-onshore wind and the setup being a reef break, this is looking more like a kiteboarder’s paradise than a surfer’s dream. The wind is strong and consistent, and the east-northeast direction is a good match for the optimum swell direction. If you’re a paddler, save your energy. The forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a blank run.

Rusty.

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