Surf Forecasts:
El Canal surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 9s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 8s period, E swell with 161 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 9s 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 (Aug 18) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 10s. 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 1.1m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Canal over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey, Rusty here. Let’s break down what we’re dealing with.
From Tuesday, August 18th, right on through until Sunday, August 30th, we are in a dead zone at El Canal. The wind is almost always coming from the east or east-northeast, cross-shore, and it’s creating a lumpy, choppy mess on the surface. The swell is small—mostly under 4 feet—and coming from the wrong direction (east or northeast), not the north angle this reef really wants to see. The combined wave energy readings bounce around from weak to moderate, but the quality is nonexistent. Water temp is about 84°, which is normal for the season. Honestly, this stretch looks like a better playground for a kite than a surfboard, with the persistent side wind and rough sea state.
The only glimmer in this whole forecast is on the morning of Wednesday, August 26th. We get a nice long-period groundswell from the east, rolling in at about 4 feet with a period of 13 seconds (combined energy of all swells directed here: 605). The wind is a light breeze from the east-northeast, still cross-shore, but it’s gentle enough that the surface might clean up a bit. It’s a marginal call—meaning the tide and sandbanks will be the deciding factors—but for advanced surfers who know the spot, that morning is your only real shot. The direction is still east, so don’t expect perfection, but at least it’s something after a long, quiet spell.
That afternoon the wind picks back up, and the rest of the days through to September 2nd are just more of the same: poor conditions, cross-shore wind, and surf that’s not worth chasing. There are a couple more pulses of longer-period swell at the very end of August and into September, but the wind stays messy, so the quality just isn’t there.
So, one morning to maybe get wet, and then a whole lot of nothing. That’s the hand we’re dealt. The forecast can always change, but for now, it’s a patience game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 31°C on Thu morning, min 24°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSE on Tue night, fresh winds from the ENE by Thu afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Fri morning, min 25°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Fri afternoon, light winds from the SE by Fri night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 6 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | E 7 | NNE 7 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 5 | E 6 | E 7 | E 6 | E 7 | E 6 | E 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 120 | 112 | 66 | 84 | 161 | 132 | 44 | 12 | 11 | 156 | 5 | 30 | 99 | 113 | 67 | 116 | 144 | 111 | 127 | 136 | 134 |
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 | 1:14PM0.65m | 1:00AM0.48m | 2:08PM0.63m | 1:44AM0.43m | 3:05PM0.61m | 2:33AM0.40m | 4:03PM0.60m | 3:29AM0.38m | 5:00PM0.61m | 4:30AM0.39m | 5:52PM0.62m | 5:29AM0.40m | 6:38PM0.64m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:38PM0.22m | 7:13AM0.11m | 8:39PM0.25m | 7:59AM0.12m | 9:43PM0.26m | 8:49AM0.12m | 10:45PM0.26m | 9:43AM0.13m | 11:40PM0.25m | 10:37AM0.13m | 00:28AM0.25m | 11:30AM0.12m | 1:08AM0.23m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — |
 | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:06 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:04 | — | — | 7:04 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 27 | 31 | 30 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 30 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | NNE 10 | E 8 | NNE 9 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | E 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | E 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | ENE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | E 19 |
| kJ | 120 | 9 | 66 | 7 | 12 | 9 | 33 | 12 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 30 | 6 | 6 | 22 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 10 | — | NNE 9 | N 6 | — | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | — | E 14 | E 13 | NE 9 | NNE 7 | E 12 | E 12 | NNE 8 | E 11 | E 11 | — | — | — | NE 7 |
| kJ | 9 | — | 8 | 3 | — | 6 | 9 | — | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | N 6 | N 6 | — | — | NNE 8 | — | — | — | E 13 | NE 8 | — | — | E 12 | — | — | — | — | — | N 12 |
| kJ | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | 7 | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 8 | E 4 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 6 | E 5 | E 5 | E 7 | E 5 | E 5 | E 7 | E 7 | E 5 | E 6 | E 7 | E 6 | E 7 | E 6 | E 7 |
| kJ | — | 112 | 11 | 84 | 161 | 132 | 44 | 120 | 74 | 156 | 109 | 65 | 99 | 113 | 67 | 116 | 144 | 111 | 127 | 136 | 134 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 48 | 810 | 0 | 242 | 382 | 0 | 382 | 1000 | 1 | 666 | 838 | 1 | 666 | 651 | 19 | 520 | 876 | 19 | 520 | 1019 | 1 |
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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