Cabarete Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, talkin' about Cabarete here, and I gotta be straight with you – it's a tough stretch ahead. We've got a solid 16-day window on the cards, but the pattern is stubborn, and honestly, it's not looking good for a paddle. The wind is locked in from the east, which for Cabarete is cross-on and it's gonna keep things choppy and messy. The swell is there, but it's fighting a losing battle against that breeze.

Starting off Sunday the 23rd, the afternoon brings some clouds and a moderate east breeze at 15 mph. We've got a small 3ft swell from the ENE, but that's just a short-period 6-second wind swell. The combined energy is weak, just 68 (combined energy of all swells directed here). The water is warm, a balmy 84°, which is about average for this time of year. But the surf conditions are just poor.

We roll into Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th, and it's the same tune. Clear skies, cross-on east wind picking up to a fresh 22 mph on the afternoons, creating lumpy conditions. Swell sizes hover around the 3ft to 4ft mark with periods still short. The combined energy stays weak, mostly in the 40s to 70s range. No real surf to get excited about.

Wednesday the 26th is a carbon copy: cross-on winds, short-period swell, poor conditions. There is a bit more energy on the 27th and 28th as we see the combined energy climb to around 191 (combined energy of all swells directed here), but the wave comment still says "poor surf conditions" and that cross-on wind is relentless.

As we head into the end of August and the start of September, the swell period finally starts to push up. You see 15-second intervals and 12-second intervals kicking in around the 31st of August and 1st of September. The combined energy jumps right up, hitting 522 (combined energy of all swells directed here) and then 599 (combined energy of all swells directed here). That tells you there's some real groundswell energy in the water, but here's the kicker – it's all coming from the east, which means it's not wrapping in right for Cabarete's optimum NE direction, and that cross-on wind is still howling. The wave comment persistently says "poor surf conditions," and I can't see it being anything other than a choppy mess.

The difficulty is that Cabarete is a reef break, and this long-period groundswell from the east with cross-on wind is just going to be a ropy, blown-out disaster for a paddle surfer. Honestly, with the consistent cross-shore wind and the size, this whole setup looks far more interesting for a kite surfer than someone paddling.

There are no standout days in this 16-day window. The forecast is consistent in its mediocrity. It is not a blank run, but it's a wash. Keep an eye on it, forecasts can change, but for now, the gear stays in the bag.

Rusty.

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