Arrieta Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Arrieta over the next couple of weeks.

To be straight with you, the outlook for Arrieta is a tough one. We’ve got a real quiet start with no surf worth paddling out for. The first proper chance to even think about a wave doesn’t roll around until Monday the 19th of August, and even then conditions are just ordinary. So we’re looking at a solid gap of about 9 days from now with nothing to get excited about.

Arrieta is a sheltered reef set-up, inconsistent by nature, and the swell direction we need – from the north – isn’t really lining up with the wind or the energy. The water temperature is sitting at 74°F and that’s a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you won’t need a thick suit.

The first hint of any surf appears on the morning of Monday the 19th – we’ve got a 5ft swell from the north with a period of 9 seconds, and a cross-offshore wind from the NNW at 9 mph. The combined energy at that point is only moderate (340), and it’s surfable, but very ordinary. Not worth rushing for.

The morning of Thursday the 21st sees the swell drop right off to just 1ft, but the period stretches to 10 seconds from the northwest. The energy is weak (26), and again, it’s just not happening.

Looking further out, the most promising window comes on Saturday the 23rd and Sunday the 24th of August. Saturday morning brings a 5ft north-northeast swell with a 7-second period, but the wind is cross-shore and lumpy. By the afternoon, we get a cleaner cross-offshore breeze, but the swell is still short-period and messy. The combined energy picks up to 329 – still moderate. Sunday the 24th morning sees the biggest swell of the entire run: 6ft from the north-northeast at 8 seconds, with a combined energy of 493. That’s moderate but pushing strong. The problem is the wind stays cross-shore and the surf is described as poor. For a reef like Arrieta, that short-period, wind-affected swell just won’t shape up well.

The one standout – if you can call it that – is the morning of Thursday the 21st, with a tiny 1ft swell from the northwest but a period of 10 seconds. That’s not enough height to surf, but it shows the direction is right. The best bet is probably the morning of Sunday the 24th, with the biggest swell (6ft, NNE) and the highest energy (493), but only if you’re an expert and you don’t mind cross-shore wind and chop. Otherwise, save your energy.

Bottom line: This is a long, quiet stretch for Arrieta. The surf is inconsistent here, and this run looks about normal for the area. I wouldn’t hold your breath. Forecasts can change, but for now, it’s not looking good.

Rusty.

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