Water management in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) has remained one of the most important issues preventing its commercialization in automotive applications. Water accumulation on the gas diffusion layer (GDL) in a PEMFC acts as a barrier for the reactant gas transport through the GDL to the catalyst layer. In this paper, a detailed ex situ experimental investigation has been performed to observe the water droplet dynamics in the gas channel for channel open angles from 30 degrees to 90 degrees under controlled gas flow velocities (0.2-2 ms(-1)). The primary goal of these experiments is to elicit the importance and relevance of the channel open angles as well as the locations of the water droplet emergence on the droplet dynamics. Experimental data were analyzed using Concus-Finn condition and it was observed that the channel angle along with the air velocities influence the water distribution and holdup in the channel. Dynamic contact angle was seen as an important parameter in controlling the droplet-wall interaction. It was revealed from experimentation that location of the droplet emergence has significant impact on water-sidewall interactions and the resulting pressure drop across a droplet. (C) 2012 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/2.066208jes]