Arugam Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, this is Rusty. Let's have a look at what's on offer for Arugam Bay over the next couple of weeks.

The water's sitting at a warm 84°, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year, so no wetsuit needed, just boardshorts and wax.

We've got a bit of a slow start. Sunday the 2nd is pretty marginal, with a small 3ft swell from the SSW and a 15-second period. The wave energy is weak (334). There's a bit of a cross breeze in the morning, but by Sunday afternoon the wind goes glassy, and the swell bumps up to 3ft with a 14-second period, and the energy picks up to a moderate 475. It's a quiet start, but that glassy afternoon is a nice little window for a cruise.

Monday the 3rd is a write-off. A 6ft SSW swell with a short, weak 8-second period and strong cross-shore winds make for poor, choppy conditions. Skip it.

Tuesday the 4th is a step up. The morning is still a bit marginal with a 3ft SSW swell, but the period is a lovely long 16 seconds, and the energy is moderate (939). The real standout is Tuesday afternoon: glassy conditions, a 4ft SSW swell with that same 16-second period, and the energy is moderate (680). This is a clean, fun session for an intermediate surfer.

Now, Wednesday the 5th is the pick of the trip. The morning is absolutely glassy, with a 3ft SSW swell and a 15-second period. The energy is strong (1110). This is excellent surf for experienced surfers—clean, well-shaped waves with nice long gaps between sets. The swell direction is a bit south of the optimum SE, but with zero wind, it's going to be a gem. The afternoon is still good, but the wind picks up to a light cross, and the period jumps to a very long 20 seconds, which can make the waves break a bit straight at a point break like Arugam Bay. Still, a solid day.

Thursday the 6th and Friday the 7th keep the energy high. Thursday has a 5ft SSW swell in the morning and a 4ft in the afternoon, both with 16-18 second periods and strong energy (1591 and 1241). Winds are light cross or cross, so it's good but not perfect. Friday morning is another standout: glassy, 3ft of S swell with a 19-second period, and strong energy (1306). It's a clean, very long-period groundswell that will groom the point beautifully.

Saturday the 8th is the biggest day of the run. The morning cleans up with a 5ft S swell, 16-second period, and very strong energy (1744). The wind is a light cross-offshore, making it excellent for experienced surfers. The afternoon swell pushes to 5ft with a 17-second period and very strong energy (1992), but the wind swings cross-on and gets choppy. The morning is the winner here.

From Sunday the 9th through to Tuesday the 12th, the surf stays in the 4ft to 5ft range, with varied wind conditions. The energy stays strong to very strong. The swell direction shifts around a bit, but it's mostly from the S or SSW. Wednesday the 12th afternoon is a nice little surprise: a 4ft SSW swell with a short 7-second period, but the wind goes cross-offshore and clean, and the energy is moderate (556). It's a fun, if a bit weak, session.

The second week cools off. The swell drops to 3ft to 4ft, and the energy is moderate to weak. The best windows are Thursday the 13th afternoon (3ft SSE swell, 11-second period, light cross-offshore, moderate energy of 745) and Friday the 14th morning (3ft SSE swell, 18-second period, strong energy of 1028, but with a onshore wind).

From Friday the 14th afternoon all the way through Sunday the 17th, it's pretty grim. The swell is small, the wind is a strong cross-on from the SSW, and the energy is moderate to strong. The conditions are poor, with choppy and lumpy surf. It's more of a windsurf or kite session than a paddle session if you're keen.

Overall, the standout is Wednesday the 5th morning: glassy, 3ft SSW swell, 15-second period, strong energy (1110), and excellent for experienced surfers. The second standout is Saturday the 8th morning: 5ft S swell, 16-second period, very strong energy (1744), and clean from a light cross-offshore wind. The crowds at Arugam Bay can be a factor sometimes, but on these standout days, it's worth the company.

Rusty.

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