Arrieta Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, this is Rusty, and I’m gonna be straight with you. For the next 16 days, Arrieta is a tough watch. The swell is there, but it’s rough. We’ve got moderate to strong wave energy coming in (827 at its peak) but it's all wrapped up in the wrong wind. The forecast is pretty much a write-off for decent paddle surfing.

Right now, starting Thursday August 6th, we’ve got a solid 8ft of swell from the NE, but it’s hammered by a fresh cross-shore wind. It’s lumpy, messy, and just not worth it. This continues right through the first week. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there, but that’s the only good news.

Friday the 7th through Sunday the 9th, the swell drops a bit, hanging around 6ft to 7ft, and the wind turns slightly cross-offshore. That cleans things up, but the period is short (7-8 seconds) so the waves are weak and crumbly. The energy drops to around 400-600, still not enough to overcome the fact that it’s a short, wind-swell mess. The swell is coming from the NNE, but the optimum for this reef is from the N, so it’s never really lining up.

The second week doesn’t get much better. From Monday the 10th to Wednesday the 19th, it’s a rinse and repeat of cross-shore winds and short-period swell. There are pockets of cleaner conditions when the wind goes cross-off, but the surf quality is still rated as poor. The swell height bounces between 4ft and 7ft, but with that period stuck under 8 seconds, it’s just not gonna hold up.

A couple of days stand out, but only just. On Thursday August 20th, we see the period jump to 10 seconds, and the swell direction is finally from the N. The height is small at 5ft, but that longer period brings a bit more shape. The wind is moderate cross-shore, so it’s not glassy, but it’s the best looking session in the whole run. Friday August 21st is similar, with a 9-second period and clean cross-off wind in the morning, but again, the energy is only moderate (370).

Overall, this is a long, frustrating stretch. There’s nothing here that’s a standout. The swell is too short-period and the wind is constantly onshore or cross-shore. For a reef break that needs the right direction and clean conditions, this is a total pass. If you’re a kiter, though, that fresh cross-shore breeze and 7ft+ swell might look fun. For the rest of us, save your energy.

Rusty.

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