Surf Forecasts:
El Canal surf forecast from 8 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 11 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 8s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 11 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period, E swell with 364 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 8s 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 Tuesday (Sep 08) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 11s. 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 1.7m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 11) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Friday (Sep 11) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Fri 11th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Fri 11th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Canal over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break it down.
Honestly, the outlook for the next 16 days is a grim one. We’ve got a massive gap of nothing happening. The first real chance of even a mediocre surf doesn’t pop up until Friday the 18th of September, and it’s not exactly a day to write home about.
Everything from right now through the 17th is a total washout. We’ve got some swell, sure, but it’s being hammered by a relentless east wind blowing 10 to 19 mph cross-shore, churning the ocean into a lumpy, choppy mess. The water temp is a warm 85°, and that’s about average for this time of year, but it’s the only thing going for it. The combined wave energy hits a moderate peak of 349 on the 11th, but it’s all short-period, ugly windswell. Don’t even bother.
The only break we’re looking at is El Canal (reef). It’s a fairly consistent, advanced reef break, which is a good sign, but the constant cross-shore wind has made it a mess. The swell is coming from the east, which isn’t its ideal direction from the north. Honestly, with this much wind and poor surf quality, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
Then, on the morning of Friday the 18th, things finally ease up. The wind drops to a gentle 9 mph from the ESE, going cross-offshore. The conditions clean up. But the swell is tiny, just 2 ft from the east, with a weak combined energy of 41. The report says "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions," and with a score of 1 out of 10, that’s the best we’ve got. After that, it drops right back into the doldrums for the rest of the forecast.
So, there’s no real window for a good session. Hold off until at least the 18th, and even then, it’s a gamble on a tiny, weak wave. For a spot like this, a blank run like this is pretty normal. The forecasts can change, but for now, I wouldn’t get your hopes up.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 31°C on Tue morning, min 26°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSE on Tue morning, fresh winds from the ENE by Wed afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Warm (max 31°C on Fri morning, min 25°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Fri afternoon, light winds from the SE by Sat morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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 8 | E 8 | NE 12 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 76 | 141 | 35 | 193 | 220 | 212 | 177 | 248 | 270 | 323 | 309 | 305 | 230 | 260 | 190 | 109 | 132 | 113 | 91 | 173 | 42 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | 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 | 6:44PM0.73m | 6:51AM0.57m | 7:34PM0.72m | 7:47AM0.62m | 8:19PM0.70m | 8:38AM0.67m | 9:02PM0.67m | 9:26AM0.70m | 9:43PM0.62m | 10:13AM0.71m | 10:23PM0.57m | 10:59AM0.70m | 11:02PM0.52m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:55AM0.06m | 1:07AM0.16m | 12:56PM0.06m | 1:49AM0.14m | 1:53PM0.07m | 2:29AM0.12m | 2:48PM0.09m | 3:08AM0.10m | 3:41PM0.11m | 3:45AM0.09m | 4:32PM0.13m | 4:23AM0.08m | 5:23PM0.16m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | | | |  | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — |
 | — | 6:51 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:49 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:45 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 31 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 32 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 11 | NNE 10 | NNE 9 | N 9 | N 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 8 | NNE 9 | NNE 4 | NNE 8 | E 9 |
| kJ | 27 | 25 | 35 | 22 | 31 | 42 | 48 | 39 | 35 | 22 | 21 | 18 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 42 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 6 | N 6 | NE 11 | N 9 | NE 10 | NNE 8 | NE 10 | NNE 10 | NNE 7 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 8 | N 13 | NE 12 | NNE 9 | NE 11 | NNE 7 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 22 | 4 | 9 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 5 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | N 7 | — | — | NE 11 | NE 11 | — | NE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | NE 9 | N 13 | N 10 | N 12 | NE 12 | — | NE 11 |
| kJ | — | — | 1 | — | — | 19 | 5 | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | — | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 8 | E 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 5 |
| kJ | 76 | 141 | 130 | 193 | 220 | 212 | 177 | 248 | 270 | 323 | 309 | 305 | 230 | 260 | 190 | 109 | 132 | 113 | 91 | 173 | 34 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 382 | 1078 | 19 | 520 | 1086 | 1 | 375 | 380 | 1 | 49 | 520 | 0 | 48 | 1000 | 0 | 160 | 160 | 0 | 273 | 1001 | 0 |
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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