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

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table.

Well, I gotta be straight with ya – the outlook for El Canal (Rio de Bayamon) over the next 16 days is a tough one. This spot rarely breaks, and it's sheltered, which means it needs a very specific setup to fire. Looking at the whole run, there's a long, frustrating gap of poor conditions. From now through the middle of the month, the wind is mostly a cross-off or cross breeze, the swell is short-period, and the energy is weak (mostly under 100, into moderate energy in the 100-200 range). It’s just not doing the job for a proper surf.

The first real glimmer comes on Monday, the 17th of August. That morning we get a bit of an offshore wind from the SE, with 5 ft of swell from the ENE and a period of 10 seconds. The combined energy jumps up to 395, which is moderate, and the wind is offshore, so the surface will be clean. But even then, the conditions are described as "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions" – so it’s not a standout, just the best of a quiet bunch. The water temp is a warm 84°, which is about average for this time of year.

For the rest of the forecast, we’re looking at strong onshore to cross-shore winds, low energy, and short-period swell. Tuesday the 18th drops right back off, and from then until the 27th, the surf is tiny or blown out, with energy mostly under 100. There is no true standout session in this window – the Monday the 17th is the only one that might get you a few ordinary ones if you’re desperate.

If you’re not on a paddle board, the fresh cross-shore winds and lumpy conditions on the 16th of August might actually be more interesting for kite surfing than a traditional paddle session.

So, in short: the first week and a half is mostly a write-off. Don’t hold your breath for much. Forecasts can change but this place is rarely consistent, and a blank run like this isn’t unusual for the area.

Rusty.

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