Surf Forecasts:
El Canal surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 20 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 7s period, E swell with 235 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 5AM (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 (Jul 19) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 8s. 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 1.5m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 20) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 6s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Canal over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, and I’ve got to be straight with you – the next 16 days for El Canal are a real bummer.
We’re looking at a stretch of nothing but cross-shore wind and lumpy, crummy conditions. The water temp is sitting at 83°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so you can’t even blame the cold for the lack of quality.
The whole run kicks off Saturday the 18th of July with a weak, short-period 5ft easterly swell pushing in, but it’s got a 7-second period and a moderate cross-breeze at 16 mph. The ocean’s got a nasty cross-chop on it, and the combined energy is weak at 205. It’s a mess. That same story holds through Sunday and Monday – 5ft of crumbly, wind-affected slop with the same easterly cross-wind. The energy stays in the moderate range, highest being 222 on Monday morning, but it’s all for nothing with that wind.
Things don’t get any better as we roll into the second week. By Wednesday the 29th of July, the swell is still 5ft, but the period drops to a pathetic 6 seconds, and the energy is moderate at 178. The wind is still a fresh cross-shore breeze. It’s just not surfable.
The only real standout is a slight improvement on Sunday the 26th of July, where the period finally bumps up to 8 seconds and the energy hits 314 - a moderate to strong pulse. But don’t get excited. The swell is 5ft with a fresh 22 mph cross-shore wind, leaving it lumpy and choppy. It’s a classic case of more energy, more mess. For a reef break like El Canal, that long-period groundswell would usually be a dream, but not with this wind direction.
Honestly, there isn’t a single day in this entire 16-day window where the conditions line up. It’s all cross-shore, all chopped up, and the "poor surf conditions" label is on every single record. El Canal is a fairly consistent spot, so this blank run is a rough one. We’ll have to hope the forecasts change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Sat morning, min 24°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 30°C on Thu morning, min 24°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SE on Wed morning, fresh winds from the ENE by Thu afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 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 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | E 5 | NE 8 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 193 | 183 | 198 | 188 | 194 | 210 | 210 | 205 | 199 | 172 | 121 | 109 | 89 | 89 | 46 | 89 | 126 | 18 | 75 | 170 | 132 |
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 | 11:58AM0.62m | 00:15AM0.67m | 12:56PM0.63m | 00:59AM0.60m | 1:53PM0.63m | 1:43AM0.53m | 2:51PM0.63m | 2:28AM0.48m | 3:48PM0.63m | 3:16AM0.43m | 4:43PM0.63m | 4:07AM0.40m | 5:36PM0.63m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:01PM0.14m | 6:38AM0.11m | 7:03PM0.19m | 7:21AM0.11m | 8:06PM0.23m | 8:04AM0.11m | 9:12PM0.25m | 8:48AM0.11m | 10:16PM0.26m | 9:33AM0.11m | 11:18PM0.26m | 10:19AM0.11m | 00:13AM0.25m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | |  | | | |  | | | | | | |
 | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — |
 | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 30 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 27 | 31 | 29 | 27 |
Feels °C | 30 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 27 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 10 | ENE 7 | NE 10 | ENE 7 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 8 | — | NE 8 |
| kJ | 4 | 5 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 89 | 4 | 46 | 3 | 3 | 18 | 28 | — | 20 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 9 | NE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 8 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | — | — | — | — | E 7 |
| kJ | 8 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 15 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
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 7 | E 7 | E 7 | — | ENE 7 | E 4 | ENE 7 | E 5 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 |
| kJ | 193 | 183 | 198 | 188 | 194 | 210 | 210 | 205 | 199 | 172 | 121 | 109 | — | 89 | 17 | 89 | 126 | 116 | 75 | 170 | 132 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1086 | 1019 | 1 | 377 | 1000 | 1 | 1019 | 876 | 1 | 160 | 808 | 0 | 48 | 651 | 0 | 382 | 423 | 1 | 375 | 1000 | 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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