Arpoador Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s take a look at what’s coming up for us over the next couple of weeks in feet and miles per hour.

We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag on the horizon, but there’s definitely some good stuff to get excited about, especially if you’re willing to be patient. The waves will start off pretty average and then build into some real standouts later on.

We kick things off on Thursday morning, the 3rd of September, at Arpoador. It’s not the best we’ll see, but there’s a clean 5 ft S swell rolling in with a nice 11-second period. The combined energy is moderate at 659. The wind is light and cross-off from the NE at 6 mph, so it’s clean and rideable for beginners. Don’t expect perfection, but it’s a solid enough start. The water temp is about average for this time of year.

Thursday afternoon the wind picks up from the E at 12 mph, making it a bit bumpy. The swell drops a touch, and the quality goes down. Not worth rushing out for.

Friday the 4th sees a drop in size to 3 ft SSE, still with a clean morning session thanks to light NNW winds at 6 mph. Energy is down to 271, so it’s fun smaller stuff but nothing special. By afternoon, the onshore wind ruins it.

Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th are pretty poor. The swell drops right off to tiny 2 ft and 1 ft over the weekend, with onshore winds and rain. The energy is weak, hitting just 77 on Saturday morning. Not worth paddling out.

Monday the 7th is also messy. There's 5 ft to 6 ft S swell, but the short period (8 to 10 seconds) and onshore winds mean it’s choppy and ugly. The energy is strong at 562 and 553, but the quality is low.

Tuesday the 8th offers a bit of a breather. The morning looks good: 4 ft S swell with an 11-second period, clean with cross-off winds from the ENE at 6 mph. Energy is moderate at 427. It’s surfable and clean, but not a standout.

Now, here’s the real deal. Thursday the 10th of September is a true standout. Morning and afternoon both look excellent. We’ve got 7 ft E swell, period of 8 seconds, and clean offshore winds from the NE and NNE at 6 mph. The energy is strong at 956. The waves will be punchy and clean. Arpoador will be breaking well. Keep in mind, this size is too big for beginners—this is one for the experienced crew. The crowds are likely because it’s a classic spot, so get there early.

Friday the 11th offers a nice transition: glassy conditions in the morning with a light 3 ft ESE swell. The period is 9 seconds, and the energy is low at 187. It’s a small, clean morning session for the longboard or a fun fish.

The following week, things start to look interesting again. On Monday the 14th of September, we get a lovely long-period groundswell. The morning has 4 ft S swell with a 15-second period, and the afternoon bumps up to 3 ft S swell with a 16-second period. The energy is substantial—632 in the morning and 725 in the afternoon. The wind is light and cross-off from the NE at 6 mph, keeping it clean. This groundswell is really well suited for a point or reef, and with that long period, the sets will line up nicely. Again, not for beginners.

Tuesday the 15th and Wednesday the 16th are more average, with onshore winds and lower quality, but the morning of Wednesday the 16th has clean 3 ft S swell with a 13-second period and moderate offshore winds from the NNE at 12 mph. It’s clean and rideable.

Thursday the 17th of September is another beauty and one of the best bets. The morning is glassy calm with a clean 4 ft S swell, 11-second period, and energy at 371. The winds are glass, so the waves will be clean and lined up. This is a fantastic morning for intermediate surfers. The crowds are likely.

Overall, the two standouts are Thursday the 10th of September for the bigger, punchy 7 ft E swell with clean offshore winds, and Thursday the 17th of September for the glassy, clean 4 ft S swell. Mark your calendar for those.
Rusty.

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