Cabarete Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, it’s Rusty here, and I’ve got to be straight with you – looking out over the next couple of weeks for the Cabarete area, it’s a pretty grim picture for paddling. The onshore wind is a constant problem, and the conditions across the board are just poor. We’ve got a solid run of days with no surf worth chasing right from the start.

The first real chance we see is on Sunday the 23rd of August into the following week, but even then, it’s a struggle. The wind is mostly cross-onshore from the east, at 12 to 19 mph, just messing up any chance of a clean face. The swell is marginal, hovering around 3 ft to 4 ft, with short periods of 6 or 7 seconds. That’s just weak, choppy energy with a wave energy reading in the moderate range (say, around 56 to 154). The water temp is a warm 84° with a tiny anomaly of 0.9°, so that’s totally normal for this time of year. But honestly, none of that matters when the wind won’t give you a break.

There’s a slight bump in wave energy towards the end of August 26th and 27th, with the swell climbing to 5 ft to 5 ft and energy values jumping to 217 and 254. The wind shifts a bit more cross-shore (SE/ESE) at 12 to 16 mph, but it’s still described as "cross-shore with a cross-chop." It’s a bit more interesting, but it still won’t be clean. The wind just won’t let it be good for a surfboard.

Later on, August 30th swings in with a 5 ft swell from the east, and the combined energy gets up to 315 – that’s proper moderate power. But again, the wind is cross-onshore and fresh at 22 mph. At that point, you’re looking at lumpy, choppy lines. If you’re on a kite, it’s a different story – that's proper wind, and the sets will be rideable. For a surfer? It’s just frustrating.

September 1st shows a small punch of 2 ft to 3 ft swell, but the period stretches a little to 10 seconds. That’s a bit more groundswell character, but don’t get your hopes up. The wind remains cross-onshore, and the wave comment across the entire forecast is "poor surf conditions."

So, what’s the standout? Honestly, there isn’t one. Not a single day in this 16-day window delivers the goods for paddle surfing at Cabarete. The reef setup (Cabarete) is exposed and consistent, but the wind direction is just cruel. If you’re a kitesurfer, you’ll have a field day with those solid easterlies almost every afternoon. For the rest of us, it’s a waiting game. The blank run is a tough one, but forecasts can shift.

Stay tuned, and keep your stick handy.

Rusty.

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