El Canal (Rio de Bayamon) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch ahead for our region. The whole 16-day window looks pretty bleak for getting a good wave. We’ve got a solid run of flat to small, weak swell and persistent onshore winds that just won’t let up. There’s really no standout session to get excited about.

Let’s look at the only spot on the cards: El Canal (Rio de Bayamon). This is a river mouth setup, sheltered, and it rarely breaks – so the fact it’s even on the radar is notable. Over the next few days, we’re looking at a tiny pulse of swell from the ENE, about 4 ft to 4 ft, with a short period of just 6 to 7 seconds. That’s weak, poor-quality stuff. The wind is stuck out of the east at 15 to 19 mph, mostly cross-off, which keeps the surface clean but the wave shape is just mushy. The combined energy is weak, sitting between 132 and 154 (moderate energy), but the wave comment says “poor surf conditions” all the way through, and that’s the truth.

After Friday, the swell drops right off. From Saturday the 12th through to Sunday the 20th, we’re looking at barely a ripple – swell heights of 0.3 ft to 2 ft, periods under 10 seconds, and energy readings in the single digits or low teens. That’s a dead zone for nearly a week. The wind stays moderate to fresh from the east, cross-off, so it’s clean but there’s nothing to ride.

There’s a tiny bump on Friday the 17th into Saturday the 18th of July, with swell trying to build back to 4 ft from the ENE, but again the period is short (6 seconds) and the energy is moderate at best (126-148). The wind is still cross-off, clean, but the quality is still poor. Honestly, that’s not surf you’d drive for.

The best we get in the whole window is a slight rise on Sunday the 19th of July, with swell hitting 5 ft from the ENE, period 7 seconds, and energy at 175. Still, it’s cross-off wind, clean, but the wave comment is still “poor surf conditions.” Given the short period and the river mouth setup, it’s going to be small, weak, and crumbly. Not a beginner wave because it’s over 5 ft, but it’s not a proper wave for experienced surfers either.

From the 20th onward, it’s back to flatness with a few weak pulses in the 3 ft to 4 ft range, but the period is short and the wind is fresh. Nothing to get excited about.

Water temperature is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

Bottom line: if you’re desperate for a paddle, El Canal might offer a tiny, crumbly wave on the 19th, but it’s not going to be good. The rest of the forecast is a write-off. For this area, a blank run like this is unfortunately pretty normal when the trade winds lock in. Don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

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