Surf Forecasts:
El Canal surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 31 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 11s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 11s period, E swell with 1,253 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 15s 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 2.3m 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (AST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Canal over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, Rusty here. Look, I've got to be straight with you – this 16-day window for El Canal is a tough one. There's not a single standout session, and most of the time the surf is just poor. We're looking at a long stretch of onshore winds and weak, short-period swell that's not going to deliver much for paddle surfing.
Let's start with the early part of the run. From Thursday the 27th of August right through to the end of the month, it's all cross-shore winds with swell around 2 ft to 5 ft from the east, but the period is short – just 5 to 8 seconds. The combined energy is weak, ranging from 104 to 224, and the wave comment is consistently "poor surf conditions." The wind is a moderate to fresh breeze, so it's lumpy. Not a single one of these sessions gets a score above zero.
Then on Monday the 31st of August, there's a bit of a change. The afternoon shows a 7 ft swell from the east with a 12-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 1098 – that's a lot of energy in the water. But the wind is still cross-shore, and the wave comment is only "marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions." It gets a 2 out of 10, but given the cross-shore breeze and the hefty size, this is really only for the advanced crew at this reef break. The short period for the rest of the week keeps the waves weak and messy.
From the 1st of September onward, it's more of the same. Swell stays mostly under 3 ft, with periods of 5 to 9 seconds, and the combined energy drops back to weak or moderate (31 to 416). The wind remains cross-shore or cross-on, and there's even a risk of thunderstorms on a few afternoons. The water temperature anomaly is about average for the time of year, so nothing unusual there.
The only session that gets a 1 out of 10 is on Monday the 7th of September in the morning, with a 4 ft east swell at 8 seconds and a light breeze, but the combined energy is 361 – still moderate. It's described as "marginal surf forecast," so it's not great. The rest of the run into the 11th of September is all poor.
Because the swell is generally small and the wind is on it, and this is a reef break, it's not looking interesting for kite surfing either. Honestly, this is a blank run. The conditions are poor, and there's no real window of good surf. Sometimes it's like this, and the forecasts can change, but for now, it's a tough stretch.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 31°C on Sat morning, min 25°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ESE on Thu morning, fresh winds from the ENE by Fri afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Mon night. Warm (max 31°C on Sun morning, min 26°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Sun afternoon, light winds from the SE by Tue morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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 9 | E 8 | E 8 | NE 13 | E 8 | E 5 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 8 | E 12 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 39 | 49 | 133 | 46 | 122 | 65 | 104 | 140 | 153 | 178 | 178 | 152 | 134 | 169 | 1098 | 1006 | 480 | 416 | 225 |
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 | glassy |
High Tide | 7:56AM0.52m | 8:32PM0.67m | 8:40AM0.57m | 9:07PM0.66m | 9:23AM0.61m | 9:42PM0.64m | 10:07AM0.65m | 10:18PM0.61m | 10:53AM0.68m | 10:56PM0.57m | 11:41AM0.69m | 11:37PM0.52m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:17AM0.20m | 1:55PM0.12m | 2:49AM0.18m | 2:42PM0.13m | 3:20AM0.16m | 3:29PM0.14m | 3:52AM0.13m | 4:17PM0.15m | 4:26AM0.11m | 5:08PM0.17m | 5:03AM0.09m | 6:03PM0.18m | |||||||
 |  | |  | | | | | |  | | | | |  | |  |  | | |
 | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — |
 | 7:01 | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:59 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:57 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 8 | — | 1 | 2 |
Temp °C | 28 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 31 | 30 | 28 | 31 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 27 | 31 | 31 | 27 |
Feels °C | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 8 | NE 13 | E 8 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | ENE 8 | E 12 | E 10 | E 9 | — | E 9 |
| kJ | 36 | 49 | 46 | 46 | 52 | 51 | 43 | 42 | 30 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 14 | 169 | 1098 | 1006 | 480 | — | 225 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 15 | NE 14 | NE 10 | NE 13 | — | — | NE 11 | NE 11 | N 13 | NE 10 | N 12 | N 12 | NE 10 | E 13 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 36 | 33 | 4 | 43 | — | — | 43 | 42 | 3 | 26 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 11 | NE 11 | — | NE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 12 | — | — | N 11 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 4 | 4 | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | E 5 | E 8 | E 4 | E 8 | E 5 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | — | — | — | — | E 9 | — |
| kJ | 39 | 18 | 133 | 25 | 122 | 65 | 104 | 140 | 153 | 178 | 178 | 152 | 134 | — | — | — | — | 416 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 651 | 838 | 0 | 375 | 380 | 1 | 520 | 375 | 1 | 273 | 832 | 0 | 385 | 382 | 0 | 48 | 159 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Amber Coast | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Dominican Republic | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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