Arguineguin Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Arguineguin. I’ll be straight with you—this stretch of the next 16 days is a tough one for paddle surfing. The swell is tiny and the energy is weak for the vast majority of the window, so it’s going to be a long wait for anything that really gets going.

Looking at the first week, from Wednesday the 5th of August right through to Saturday the 15th of August, we’re looking at a real flat spell. Swell heights barely nudge above 0.7 ft to 1 ft, and that combined energy reading is a very low two-digit number, often in the teens or even single digits. With the wind mostly coming from the north or north-northeast in a cross-offshore direction, the conditions are clean, but there’s simply no power in the water to work with. The water temperature is sitting around 74°, which is about normal for this time of year, so at least a dip is pleasant.

The real shift begins on Sunday the 16th of August. The swell starts to build, and by Monday the 17th of August, we see a proper groundswell arrive. The swell direction is from the south-southwest with a period of 15 to 16 seconds on the 16th, and that’s a long-period swell, which means more energy and better shaped waves. The combined energy jumps to a three-digit figure, hitting 88 on the Sunday afternoon, then 122 on Monday morning, and peaking at 153 on Tuesday the 18th of August. This is a moderate wave energy, and it’s the standout of the entire forecast.

The best option comes on Monday the 17th of August, with the morning offering 2 ft of south-southwest groundswell, glassy conditions with a calm sea and a light wind from the southeast. That’s a rare treat—clean, glassy conditions with a bit of push. The break is Arguineguin itself, a reef setup that’s exposed to the south. With the swell direction matching the optimum direction from the south, this is the peak of the window. It’s inconsistent by nature, which is a caveat, and crowds are possible, but for the quality on offer, it’s worth the paddle. The water temperature is still normal for the time of year.

From Tuesday afternoon onwards, the wind shifts and the quality drops off, with cross-shore breezes messing with the surface. By Wednesday the 19th of August, the swell is dropping back to 2 ft and the energy is back under 100, so that Monday to Tuesday morning window is your only real chance.

If you’re a beginner, this swell is well under 5 ft, so it’s safe enough, but the inconsistency means you’ll have to be patient between sets. For experts, the long period on a reef break like this is a joy, as the waves will reel down the line rather than close out.

So, to sum it up: the first 11 days are a write-off with tiny surf. The golden hours are from the morning of Monday the 17th of August into Tuesday morning, with glassy conditions and a moderate groundswell. That’s the one to aim for.

Rusty

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