Arrieta Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, I'm Rusty. Let's talk about what we've got lined up for Arrieta over the next couple of weeks. Straight up, I'll be honest with you – this is a tricky stretch. The forecast is showing a whole lot of "poor surf conditions" with scores of zero, so we're really hunting for the few moments that might be worth a paddle. The water here is sitting at 75°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so that's a nice little bonus when you're waiting for a set.

The first real chance of anything surfable doesn't come around until Sunday, September 13th. That's a solid week of nothing much happening. The swell is small and mostly short-period, so the energy is weak. From the 5th through to the 12th, the wind is howling from the north and north-northeast at 15 to 22 mph, making a mess of things. The wave heights are around 5ft to 7ft, but with a terrible period of 6 to 8 seconds, it's just lumpy and blown-out. The combined energy reads between 215 and 554 (moderate to strong), but without the right wind, it's a write-off for a paddle. Honestly, for a beach-and-reef setup like this, with that much wind, it might be more interesting for a kite surfer than a regular surfer.

Now, the standout – and I mean the *only* real standout – is the morning of Sunday, September 13th. The wind swings around to the south at just 3 mph, going glassy. That's a major positive. The swell is a modest 4ft from the north with an 8-second period, which is short-period but directional. The combined energy is 265 (moderate). It's not going to be pumping, and it's described as "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions," but with that glassy surface, you'll get the cleanest wave of the entire forecast. The wave will be a bit fat and weak, but it's the only time you won't be fighting the wind. Arrieta is a reef break that's sheltered and inconsistent, so don't expect a crowd, but it's a spot that needs a bit of luck to fire. This is your window.

For the rest of the second week, from the 14th onwards, we see a few more days with "surfable waves" but very ordinary conditions. Swell sizes drop from 5ft down to 1ft by the 16th, and the energy tank falls to 67 (weak). The 19th and 20th of September offer some glimmers, with the wind going offshore or glassy on the 20th morning, but the swell is small (5ft from the north-northeast, 7-second period) and the energy is only around 200 (moderate). It's clean, but don't expect much push. The 20th morning with glassy conditions and a 5ft swell might be the second-best option, but it's still a long way off and not a definite winner.

So, bottom line: if you're keen, mark your calendar for the morning of Sunday, September 13th. The glassy wind and that little north swell are your best bet. Otherwise, it's a lot of waiting for not much reward. Forecasts can change, but right now, it's a lean run.

Rusty.

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