Cabarete Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for the Cabarete area over the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, I gotta be straight with you – this is a tough stretch. We’re looking at a solid 16-day window, and the wind just won’t play ball. The predominant trade wind is blowing straight from the east, which is cross-onshore here, and it’s blowing with some muscle – mostly 12 mph to 22 mph. That’s going to keep things lumpy and choppy pretty much the whole time. The swell is coming from the east and east-northeast, but the wind is ruining the party. The combined wave energy swings from a weak 43 (moderate energy) up to a punchy 381 (strong energy), but it doesn’t matter with that wind.

The water temp is sitting at a warm 83°F, which is about average for this time of year. No surprises there.

So, let’s break it down. Starting from the 27th of July, we’ve got a small, short-period swell (4 ft, 8 seconds) but that cross-on wind is already making it a mess. It’s a “poor surf conditions” call and a score of 0 out of 10. This pattern locks in for days. The 28th, 29th, 30th, and 31st all look the same: small to medium swell (3 ft to 6 ft), short period (5-8 seconds), and that relentless cross-onshore wind. The 30th of July afternoon sees the swell hit 6 ft with a combined energy of 381 (strong energy), but the wind is a fresh 22 mph cross-onshore. That’s a messy, blown-out wall of water, not a fun wave.

Moving into the first week of August, the pattern barely shifts. 1st through to the 4th of August, it’s more of the same: 3 ft to 5 ft, short period, and cross-onshore wind. The energy drops off a bit, with readings like 71 (weak energy) and 103 (moderate energy). The 5th and 6th of August are the weakest, with swell dropping to 2 ft and 3 ft and energy as low as 43 (weak energy). It’s pretty flat and blown out.

The second week of August shows a little more energy, but the wind is still a problem. The 7th of August afternoon has a 4 ft swell with a longer period of 9 seconds, and a combined energy of 270 (strong energy), but the wind is still a fresh 22 mph cross-onshore. The 10th and 11th of August see the swell back up to 5 ft and 5 ft with some energy (268), but you guessed it – cross-onshore wind.

The only break in the guide is Cabarete itself, a reef setup that’s consistent and exposed. It can handle swell, but it needs the wind to cooperate. Unfortunately, the optimum swell direction is NE, and we’re getting E and ENE, which is okay, but that wind is the killer. There’s not a single standout session in the whole 16 days.

If you’re a kitesurfer, this setup is more interesting – strong cross-onshore wind and a decent bump of water. For paddle surfing, it’s a write-off. The run of poor conditions is long, but that’s the trade-off for a spot that’s normally windy. Forecasts can change, but for now, I’d leave the boards at home.

Rusty.

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