Surf Forecasts:
El Canal surf forecast from 2 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 2 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 9s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 5 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s period, E swell with 195 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 2 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 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 Wednesday (Sep 02) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 9s period. 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 1.2m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 05) 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 1.4m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Sat 5th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for El Canal over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let me tell you straight up: the next two and a half weeks are a tough beat for El Canal. It's a reef break that takes an exposed northerly swell, but what we've got coming in is almost exclusively small, short-period easterly windswell, and the wind never lets up. It's cross-shore the entire time, from a moderate to fresh breeze, so the surface is going to be chopped up and lumpy. The combined swell energy is weak for most of the forecast, with values like 117, 135, or 195 (moderate wave energy at best on a couple of afternoons). There's nothing here for a surfer to get excited about.
From Wednesday the 2nd through Monday the 14th of September, it’s the same story: waist-high or smaller surf (1ft to 5ft), short periods of 4 to 9 seconds, and a steady cross-wind. The water temperature anomaly is not supplied, so I can't tell you if it's warmer or colder than usual.
There is a slight change around Tuesday the 15th and Wednesday the 16th of September, when the swell direction swings around to the north-northeast and the period finally climbs into the 10 to 13 second range. That's a proper groundswell signal. The combined energy nudges into the moderate range (203 on the 15th afternoon, 169 on the morning). But the swell size is tiny—only 2ft to 2ft—and the wind is still howling cross-shore at 12 to 19 mph. The wave comment still says "poor surf conditions." It’s a classic case of a better direction and longer period, but no size to work with, and the wind ruins any chance of a clean face.
Honestly, this is a blank run. For a spot that is "fairly consistent," this is an unusually poor stretch. Don't bother paddling out at El Canal for the entire 16-day window. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing given the persistent cross-winds.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 30°C on Wed morning, min 25°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 32°C on Sun afternoon, min 25°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSE on Fri night, fresh winds from the ENE by Mon afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | ||||||||||||||
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 5 | E 4 | E 5 | E 4 | E 4 | E 5 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 5 | E 8 | E 9 | E 5 | E 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 185 | 115 | 133 | 105 | 27 | 31 | 28 | 14 | 29 | 35 | 35 | 195 | 32 | 29 | 68 | 20 | 41 | 83 | 35 |
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 | off | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:37PM0.52m | 12:34PM0.70m | 00:23AM0.49m | 1:32PM0.70m | 1:16AM0.46m | 2:35PM0.70m | 2:18AM0.44m | 3:42PM0.70m | 3:28AM0.44m | 4:48PM0.72m | 4:41AM0.47m | 5:49PM0.73m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:45AM0.07m | 7:03PM0.20m | 6:32AM0.06m | 8:09PM0.22m | 7:28AM0.06m | 9:18PM0.22m | 8:32AM0.06m | 10:26PM0.22m | 9:40AM0.06m | 11:27PM0.21m | 10:49AM0.06m | 00:20AM0.19m | |||||||
 |  | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — |
 | 6:57 | — | 6:55 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:53 | — | — | 6:53 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — |
mm | 6 | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 27 | 30 | 30 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 32 | 29 | 32 | 32 | 29 |
Feels °C | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 33 | 31 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 8 | N 11 | E 8 | E 8 | N 10 | E 7 | E 7 | E 11 | E 9 | E 8 | — | E 8 | E 8 | N 7 | E 8 | E 9 | NNE 7 | E 8 |
| kJ | 185 | 115 | 2 | 105 | 20 | 2 | 10 | 10 | 2 | 15 | 35 | — | 32 | 29 | 1 | 20 | 41 | 5 | 35 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 11 | — | N 11 | N 10 | — | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | E 7 | — | — | — | N 8 | — | NE 9 | NNE 9 | NE 11 | NE 9 |
| kJ | — | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 3 | 8 | 5 | 22 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | E 8 | — | N 10 | — | — | N 9 | — | — | — | — | — | N 7 | N 6 | NE 9 | NE 12 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 8 | — | E 5 | E 4 | E 5 | E 4 | E 4 | E 5 | E 4 | E 8 | E 5 | E 5 | E 5 | E 6 | ESE 5 | E 5 | E 5 |
| kJ | — | — | 133 | — | 27 | 31 | 28 | 14 | 29 | 35 | 13 | 195 | 54 | 24 | 68 | 60 | 24 | 83 | 55 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 382 | 904 | 0 | 672 | 651 | 0 | 382 | 651 | 0 | 242 | 651 | 1 | 382 | 569 | 1 | 1 | 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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