Arrieta Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, I’ve had a look at what’s on offer for our local zone, and I’ve got to be straight with you – this is a grim stretch ahead. We’re looking at a solid run of poor surf conditions that stretches all the way from now through to the end of the period. There isn’t a single standout session in the whole 16 days, and the only break we’ve got to work with is Arrieta.

Arrieta’s a tricky, inconsistent reef break that only works on a northerly swell, and it’s sheltered as hell. The water temp right now is about average for the time of year, nothing weird going on there.

The forecast kicks off with Tuesday morning (18 August) seeing a small 3ft north swell, period of 8 seconds, with a light north breeze blowing cross-offshore. Wave energy is moderate at best (138), and while the conditions are clean, the surf is so ordinary you’d be hard-pressed to call it a session. That afternoon looks similar, still just surfable but very ordinary.

From Wednesday the 19th right through to the end of the month, it’s a wasteland. The swell hangs around between 3ft and 8ft, mostly from the north-northeast, but the wind gets nasty. By Thursday the 27th we’ve got a 7ft north-northeast swell with a strong breeze screaming at 25 mph cross-shore, making a total mess of things. Wave energy climbs into the strong range (459 and above) but the quality is terrible – lumpy, choppy, cross-chop everywhere. This is more of a kite-surfing setup than anything you’d want to paddle into.

Even the bigger pulses – like the 8ft north-northeast swell on Friday 28 August, with energy hitting 707 – are ruined by fresh to strong onshore cross-winds. Periods stay short, mostly 6 to 8 seconds, so you’re getting windswell mush, not groundswell.

There’s a brief flicker on Sunday 30 August afternoon, where the wind goes cross-offshore again and the swell drops to 4ft north, period 8 seconds, with clean conditions. But it’s still just a 1 out of 10, not worth the drive.

As we roll into September, the pattern doesn’t let up. Tuesday morning the 1st shows a 5ft north swell with a 9-second period – the longest period of the whole forecast – and wave energy at a strong 542, but the wind is moderate cross-shore, spoiling the party. After that it fades back to small, weak, and windy.

Bottom line: this area is looking at a long, frustrating run with no good options. Sometimes it’s just like this – the swell direction and wind never line up. Keep your gear ready, because forecasts can change, but don’t hold your breath for the next week and a half.

Rusty

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