Cabarete Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get this straight. I’ve looked at the next couple of weeks for the Cabarete area, and honestly, it’s a bit of a rough stretch for anyone looking to paddle out. The wind is just going to be a constant problem, coming cross-onshore day after day, which is gonna keep things lumpy and choppy. There’s no real window of clean conditions here, so if you’re a surfer, you might want to keep your expectations real low.

The first few days, starting Wednesday the 5th, we’ve got small, weak swell with a period of only 7 seconds – that’s just short-period windslop. It’s not got any punch, and with the wind blowing 9-16 mph, it’s going to be a mess. The swell energy is weak, like 47 to 64, which is nothing. This continues into Thursday, where it picks up a touch but stays well under 5ft, and the period is still a short 7 seconds. The wind is a bit stronger, 12-19 mph, and it’s just poor surf conditions all around.

Friday the 7th sees a slight bump in size, but the period is still only 8 seconds, so it’s not going to offer any real shape. The wind stays onshore, 16-19 mph, making it lumpy and messy. The energy is still moderate at best, with values around 177-221. We’re in a pattern here, folks.

The weekend continues this trend. Saturday the 8th and Sunday the 9th have similar conditions: chest to maybe head-high at the biggest, but with a short period and a constant cross-onshore wind. The energy is moderate, but the quality is poor. It’s not going to be worth the paddle.

Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th, the swell drops a bit, and the period stays short at 6-7 seconds. The energy is weak to moderate, but the wind is still on it. This is just a non-event for surf.

We go through the middle of the week with more of the same. Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th have some slightly bigger waves, up to 5ft, but again, the period is short and the wind is cross-onshore. The energy is moderate, but it’s all chop.

Friday the 14th, the swell builds a bit more, up to 5ft, and the energy is getting stronger, around 245-251. But the wind is picking up to a fresh 22 mph, which is going to make it even more of a mess. This is looking more like a kiteboarding day than a surfing day.

The real punch comes on Saturday the 15th. The swell jumps to 6ft, and the energy is strong, around 420-430. The period is still only 8 seconds, so it’s going to be a bit of a lumpy, walled-up mess. The wind is still a fresh 19 mph, cross-onshore. This is not for the faint of heart, and honestly, with those conditions, it looks more interesting for the kite surfers than for us.

Sunday the 16th and Monday the 17th stay in that 5-6ft range with moderate energy, but the period is still short. The wind is still cross-onshore, so it’s still not clean. Tuesday the 18th eases off a bit, but the pattern doesn’t change.

The rest of the window, up to Thursday the 20th, is just a continuation of this onshore wind and short-period swell. It’s poor surf conditions across the board, with no standout days. The swell energy is moderate at best, and the wind is never your friend.

So, for the entire 16-day window, there are no good surf options. The swell is mostly small to moderate, but the persistent cross-onshore wind just kills it. The period is always short, so there’s never any real power or shape. The setup is much more promising for kitesurfing than paddle surfing. It’s a blank run, plain and simple. Forecasts can change, but as it stands right now, you’re better off finding something else to do.

Rusty

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