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

Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you on this one. We’re looking at a pretty bleak stretch ahead for this spot. The entire 16-day window is a tough read, with a massive gap of no real surf on offer from now all the way through to the very end of the period. There’s nothing worthwhile to chase until the last couple of days.

Let’s talk about the river mouth, El Canal (Rio de Bayamon). This break is a sheltered river setup, and it’s rarely breaking, so the fact that we’re even looking at it is a clue that the ocean is flat. The water temperature is sitting at 85°, which is about normal for this time of year. For the first two weeks, we’ve got a persistent easterly breeze blowing cross-offshore, which keeps the surface clean, but the swell is just sad. We’re talking tiny, weak waves – mostly 1 ft to 4 ft from the east-northeast. The periods are short, between 5 and 8 seconds, so there’s no power behind them. The combined energy figures are low, ranging from 33 to 249 (moderate at best), but the forecast keeps calling these “poor surf conditions.” It’s just not happening.

Now, let’s fast-forward through the desert. From September 8th right through to September 21st, there’s nothing to recommend. That’s a solid two weeks of flat or near-flat conditions. Seriously, you’d be better off doing yard work.

Then, finally, on Tuesday, September 22nd, we get a flicker of life. The morning shows a 3 ft NNE groundswell with a period of 11 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 295 (moderate), and the wind is a light easterly breeze, cross-offshore. That’s the best we’ve got. The waves are described as “surfable but very ordinary,” so don’t expect anything special. The swell direction is NNE, which is a bit off the optimum N direction for this spot, but it’s still the best wave in the whole outlook. It’s a very small window for a beginner-friendly wave, but it’s the only one.

Into Wednesday, September 23rd, the morning offers a similar 3 ft NNE swell with a 10-second period. The energy is still moderate at 208. It’s another “surfable but very ordinary” morning, but the afternoon drops back to poor conditions. That’s it. That’s the whole run.

Honestly, for a spot that’s rarely breaking, a blank run like this is more normal than a surprise. The forecasts can change, but right now, don’t bother checking the ocean until the 22nd. And even then, keep your expectations in the car.

Rusty.

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