Cabarete Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be real about what’s on the table for the next couple of weeks around Cabarete. I’ve looked at the numbers, and honestly, it’s a pretty flat and frustrating stretch. There’s nothing in the first week that’s worth paddling out for, and the second week doesn’t offer much hope either. We’re looking at a solid 16-day period where the surf is just not cooperating.

The main issue is that persistent east wind. It’s blowing cross-onshore nearly every day, with speeds sitting between 12 mph and 22 mph, which is just shredding any chance of a clean face. The swell is tiny, short-period windswell from the east, with period hanging around 6 to 8 seconds. That’s weak, mushy stuff. The combined energy of all swells is mostly in the double digits or low triple digits (e.g., 253), which tells you the ocean’s just not got any punch. Water temp is sitting at 85°F, which is right about normal for this time of year, so at least the water’s warm even if the waves are gutless.

Thursday, September 10th through Sunday, September 20th – This is a dead zone. Every single report says “poor surf conditions” with a score of 0/10. The swell is bouncing between 1 ft and 5 ft, but it’s all short-period, messy, and cross-onshore. The morning of Thursday, September 17th sees the wind drop to a gentle breeze (9 mph) and go cross-shore, which is the closest we get to a “glass-off,” but the swell is only 3 ft at 6 seconds. It’s a pass. There’s nothing to recommend.

Monday, September 21st to Friday, September 25th – The trends continue. The swell stays tiny, mostly under 3 ft, and the wind remains a problem. On Wednesday, September 23rd, we finally get a brief moment of *onshore* wind from the ENE at only 6 mph, which is the lightest wind of the entire period, but the swell is a pathetic 1 ft. You’d be floating. The only flicker of something different comes on Thursday, September 24th afternoon and into Friday, September 25th, when the swell direction shifts to the north and the period jumps to 10 seconds. That’s a groundswell signal, but the size is still only 2 ft to 3 ft, and the wind is still cross-onshore (15-19 mph). The combined energy on Friday afternoon hits 206, which is moderate, but it’s not enough to overcome the chop.

The Bottom Line: There is no standout session. There is no best day. This is a two-week gap with zero solid surf. For an exposed reef like Cabarete (Dominican Republic), which is usually consistent, this is a rare blank run. The setup is so poor and the wind so strong that this window looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. Hang the board up, grab a cold drink, and wait for the next swell. The forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a no-go.

Rusty.

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