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

Alright, let’s get into it, folks. El Canal (Rio de Bayamon) is the only spot on the menu for the next 16 days, and I gotta be straight with you: it’s a tough one. It’s a sheltered river mouth that rarely breaks, so we’re already fighting an uphill battle. The first few days are pretty rough – Tuesday the 4th has some windswell pushing in around 3ft to 3ft, but it’s coming from the ENE with a cross breeze and a short period of 5-6 seconds. That’s just messy, lumpy, and weak. The combined energy is low, around 46 to 48 (weak), and the call is poor surf. Nothing to get excited about.

Wednesday and Thursday pick up a touch, but the swell stays small – 2ft to 3ft – and the wind eases into a cross-offshore from the E, which cleans it up a bit. It’s still poor quality, though. The periods are short, 6-7 seconds, and energy is still in that weak-to-moderate range (45 to 110). If you’re desperate for a splash, Thursday afternoon might have a tiny window with the cleanest conditions, but honestly, it’s marginal at best.

Friday the 7th sees the energy tick up a notch with combined values around 133 to 145 (moderate), but the wind swings back to a cross-shore and the swell is still only about 3ft with a short 8-second period. The chop will make it hard work for not much reward. Saturday the 8th holds similar size, around 4ft, but again, it’s short-period ENE windswell. The cross-off wind helps, but the wave quality is still marked poor.

Then we hit a real dead patch. From Sunday the 9th through Wednesday the 12th, the swell just drops off a cliff. We’re talking 0.7ft to 1ft of weak, short-period slop. Energy values plummet to between 20 and 30 (weak). There’s nothing rideable. That’s nearly five days of flatness. If you’re not prepared to sit it out, this is the time to find something else to do.

Now, here’s where it gets a bit more interesting. Starting Thursday the 13th, we see a pulse of ENE swell start to build. The morning is still small, around 4ft, but the energy jumps to 167 (moderate). The period is still short at 7 seconds, but the wind is clean cross-off. Friday the 14th is when things start to get real. Swell pushes up to 6ft to 6ft, and the combined energy rockets into the strong range – 294 to 341. That’s the most powerful we’ve seen all week. Still, the period is only 7-8 seconds, so it’s windswell, not long-period groundswell. It’ll be punchy but maybe not the most organized.

Saturday the 15th is the standout. We’re looking at 6ft of ENE swell, with energies hitting 379 (strong). The period picks up to 8 seconds, and the wind stays cross-off from the E at 30 km/h. It’s not glassy, but it’s clean, and that’s about as good as it gets here. Sunday the 16th holds similar size, around 6ft, with energy around 369 (strong), though the afternoon wind gets a bit more cross-shore.

After that, it starts to fade. Monday the 17th drops to 4ft, and the energy backs off to 155 (moderate). The period shortens back to 6-7 seconds. Tuesday and Wednesday of the following week see the swell continue to lose steam, down to 3ft, then 3ft, with energy falling back into the weak range. The wind stays cross-off, keeping it clean, but the size and power just aren’t there.

So, the long and short of it: the first week is a write-off, there’s a serious flat stretch in the middle, and the real window of opportunity is that Friday the 14th through Sunday the 16th window. That’s your best bet – bigger swell, strong energy, and consistent cross-off wind. But even then, it’s a river mouth that rarely breaks, so don’t expect perfection. If you’re a beginner, that 6ft to 6ft will be pushing it, but for the more experienced, it could be fun. This spot needs the right combo, and it only lines up for a couple of days.

For the water temp, nothing’s flagged as unusual, so expect it to be about average for August.

Rusty, signing off. Keep your eyes on that mid-August window. It’s not a classic, but it’s all we’ve got.

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