Surf Forecasts:
El Canal surf forecast from 9 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 15 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 8s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s period, E swell with 596 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 9 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period with E swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for El Canal this week:
The surf forecast for El Canal over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 09) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 8s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at El Canal in the next 16 days are 2.1m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (AST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Canal over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for El Canal.
To be straight with you, the next week and a half is pretty grim. We’ve got a persistent cross-shore wind from the east locking in a cross-chop on that exposed reef. The swell is there, coming out of the east-northeast to east, but the conditions are just blown out for paddle surfing. From Saturday the 8th right through to the end of the following week, the wave comment is consistently “poor surf conditions.” The combined energy is mostly weak to moderate, but with that wind, it’s messy.
The first real standout, and the only time this forecast window gets interesting, lands on Tuesday the 18th of August. Overnight, the swell bumps up to 8ft from the east with a long-period groundswell of 11 seconds. The combined energy jumps right up to 1832 (strong), which is a big shift. Now, the wind is still cross-shore out of the east at 9-12 mph, but that’s a gentle to moderate breeze, giving us a slight cross-chop rather than a full-on lumpy mess. It’s still a marginal call, but that’s the best we’ll see. The water temp is about 84°, which is pretty much average for this time of year, so no wetsuit needed.
A couple of days later on Thursday the 20th, the wind eases right back to a light breeze from the east at just 6 mph. The swell drops to 5ft from the east with an 8-second period, and the combined energy is a weaker 239. It’s still listed as marginal, so the cleanest wave of the period could be that morning, but the energy is lacking. For the rest of the run, from the 21st onward, it fades away to tiny, weak, and wind-affected again.
The only true standout is Tuesday the 18th of August. That’s the one to pencil in for a dawn paddle. For any beginner, 8ft on a reef with a cross-chop is expert territory. For the crew who can handle it, that’s the session. Don’t get too excited for the rest; it’s a long wait.
Stay salty,
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Mon afternoon, min 25°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Thu morning, min 25°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ESE on Wed morning, fresh winds from the E by Fri afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | ||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 7 | E 6 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 179 | 128 | 145 | 145 | 179 | 183 | 183 | 158 | 131 | 98 | 92 | 106 | 170 | 131 | 225 | 396 | 527 | 489 | 527 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:40AM0.44m | 6:04PM0.76m | 5:49AM0.46m | 7:02PM0.78m | 6:54AM0.50m | 7:55PM0.79m | 7:55AM0.55m | 8:44PM0.79m | 8:52AM0.60m | 9:31PM0.76m | 9:46AM0.64m | 10:15PM0.72m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:42PM0.21m | 10:52AM0.02m | 00:41AM0.19m | 11:56AM0.00m | 1:34AM0.17m | 12:58PM0.00m | 2:22AM0.15m | 1:57PM0.01m | 3:06AM0.13m | 2:55PM0.04m | 3:49AM0.11m | 3:51PM0.07m | 4:30AM0.10m | ||||||
 |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | |
 | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | 7:15 | — | 7:14 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:12 | — | — | 7:12 | — | — | 7:10 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 31 | 30 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 27 |
Feels °C | 28 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 8 | — | NE 8 | NE 8 | N 13 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NNE 13 |
| kJ | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 17 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | NE 12 | — | NE 11 | — | — | NE 9 | — | — | E 10 | E 10 | — | — | N 14 | N 14 | — | N 14 | NE 14 | — |
| kJ | 11 | 6 | — | 5 | — | — | 13 | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | 4 | 4 | — | 4 | 8 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | NE 11 | — | — | — | — | — | E 10 | E 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 7 | E 6 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 |
| kJ | 179 | 128 | 145 | 145 | 179 | 183 | 183 | 158 | 131 | 98 | 92 | 106 | 170 | 131 | 225 | 396 | 527 | 489 | 527 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 904 | 1 | 672 | 1086 | 1 | 380 | 838 | 1 | 1001 | 1086 | 0 | 382 | 999 | 0 | 382 | 375 | 1 | 666 | 1086 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Amber Coast | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Dominican Republic | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the El Canal Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for El Canal provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at El Canal can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our El Canal surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (El Canal) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for El Canal may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
El Canal is 18 km (11 miles) from Puerto Plata. If you plan a holiday in Amber Coast, look for hotels and other accommodation in Puerto Plata. Puerto Plata has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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