Surf Forecasts:
El Canal surf forecast from 21 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 23 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 6s period, E swell with 243 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 22 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 7s period with ENE 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 Wednesday (Jul 22) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 10s 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 1.7m 6s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 23) 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 1.0m 7s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Canal over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's be straight – this is a tough one to call. The forecast for the next sixteen days is a long, frustrating stretch of surf that’s got more cross-breeze than a bad day on the lake. We’re looking at a persistent run of poor surf conditions, so don’t expect to be threading any barrels.
We’ve got a single spot on the radar: El Canal. It’s a reef break for the advanced crew, and it’s fairly consistent, but that’s about the only thing going for it. The water temp is sitting at a very normal 83°F, right on the money for this time of year.
The pattern kicks off on Tuesday, the 21st of July, and it's a grim outlook. From the get-go, we’re looking at a small, weak swell – around 3ft to 4ft from the East, with a short, choppy period of 8 seconds. The combined energy is weak, reading just 116 (Monday morning). To make it worse, the wind is a cross-shore from the ENE at 12 mph, turning the surface into a mess. The wave comment is "poor surf conditions," and it stays that way for the entire 16-day window.
This pattern doesn't let up. Through Wednesday, Thursday, and into the weekend, the story is the same: east swell, cross-shore wind, and a combined energy that never gets strong enough to be exciting. The swell height does bump up to 5ft on the afternoon of Thursday the 23rd (energy hitting 229), but the wind cranks to 19 mph, creating lumpy, grovelly conditions. Even the bigger groundswell that shows up on the 30th of July (5ft, 8-second period, energy of 256) is ruined by the fresh cross-shore wind.
The entire period is a bust. Every single entry in the log says "poor surf conditions." There’s no standout, no clean window, and no day where the wind turns offshore. The swell is always coming from the East, which is the wrong direction for this spot, and the cross-shore winds are relentless. It’s a classic case of “go play golf” weather.
Forget the paddle. If you’re desperate for a water fix, the persistent cross-shore and lumpy chop on the afternoons (like the 5ft on the 24th of July) might actually be more interesting for a kite surfer than a traditional surfer. The beach-and-reef setup is just a mess of white water.
There’s a long gap of 15 days with no recommendations. It’s a blank run. Sometimes that’s just the way it goes in this region.
Keep your stick on the rack, boys. Forecasts can change, but this one’s looking stubborn.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 31°C on Thu morning, min 23°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SE on Wed morning, fresh winds from the ENE by Thu afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Fri morning, min 24°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Fri afternoon, light winds from the SSE by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | |||||||||||||||
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 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | E 7 | ENE 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 7 | E 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 114 | 138 | 114 | 111 | 128 | 135 | 128 | 229 | 179 | 117 | 163 | 145 | 127 | 166 | 217 | 142 | 187 | 142 | 118 | 164 | 83 |
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 | off |
High Tide | 2:51PM0.63m | 2:28AM0.48m | 3:48PM0.63m | 3:16AM0.43m | 4:43PM0.63m | 4:07AM0.40m | 5:36PM0.63m | 5:01AM0.39m | 6:25PM0.64m | 5:54AM0.39m | 7:10PM0.66m | 6:45AM0.40m | 7:52PM0.68m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:04AM0.11m | 9:12PM0.25m | 8:48AM0.11m | 10:16PM0.26m | 9:33AM0.11m | 11:18PM0.26m | 10:19AM0.11m | 00:13AM0.25m | 11:07AM0.10m | 1:02AM0.24m | 11:54AM0.09m | 1:46AM0.23m | 12:41PM0.09m | 2:25AM0.22m | |||||||
 | |  |  | | | | |  | | |  | | | | | | | |  | | |
 | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — |
 | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — | — | 7:21 | — | — | 7:21 | — |
mm | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 |
Temp °C | 28 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 31 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 28 |
Feels °C | 29 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 31 | 28 | 28 | 31 | 29 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 10 | ENE 7 | NE 9 | NE 9 | ESE 8 | — | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | — | ENE 7 | NE 8 | — | ENE 8 | E 8 | — | E 8 | E 8 | — | E 8 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 4 | 111 | 3 | 3 | 11 | — | 156 | 117 | — | 118 | 18 | — | 173 | 142 | — | 142 | 118 | — | 45 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 7 | — | ENE 7 | E 7 | ENE 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | — | E 8 | — | — | E 8 | E 6 |
| kJ | 114 | 138 | 114 | — | 128 | 135 | 128 | 229 | 179 | 106 | 163 | 145 | 127 | 166 | 217 | — | 187 | — | — | 164 | 83 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 838 | 838 | 0 | 672 | 633 | 0 | 48 | 1000 | 0 | 48 | 838 | 1 | 273 | 867 | 1 | 380 | 633 | 0 | 520 | 651 | 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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