Arrieta Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

Well, I’ll be honest with you – this is a tough stretch. The forecast is a long, hard slog of poor conditions, and there’s barely a window where it all comes together. The water temp is sitting at 75°F which is a touch warmer than the norm for this time of year, so at least you won’t be freezing your toes off while you’re scratching your head wondering where the surf is.

The first real chance we get is on Thursday the 3rd, in the morning. We’ve got a small 4ft swell coming from the NNE, with a short period of 7 seconds. The wind is a light cross-offshore, which cleans things up a bit, and the combined energy is weak (235). It’s surfable, but just barely. It’s the best we’ve seen, but it’s not saying much. After that, it’s back to bleak, messy conditions with strong cross-shore winds and lumpy chop through the following week.

The next flicker of hope comes on Sunday the 13th, over a week away. The morning and afternoon both show a 4ft NNE swell, still short period at 7 seconds, but the wind goes glassy. Dead calm. The combined energy is moderate (278), and the waves are described as "surfable but very ordinary." Glassy conditions are a major positive here, so if you’re desperate, that’s your window. It’s not a standout by any stretch, but it’s the cleanest the place will get in this entire 16-day run.

After that, the forecast drops off again with cross-onshore winds and tiny swell. The only other thing of note is on the final day, Wednesday the 16th, where we see a 3ft swell from the NNW with a very long period of 15 seconds. That’s groundswell energy, and the combined energy jumps to 533 (strong). But the wind is a moderate cross-shore, so it’s likely going to be choppy and messy. A long-period swell like that at a sheltered reef break like Arrieta can be tricky – it might wrap in nicely, or it might just throw up a lot of close-outs with the wrong wind. It’s a long way out, so keep an eye on it, but don’t hold your breath.

Overall, this is a lean period. If you’re a kiter, the strong cross-shore winds and lumpy seas on the 1st and 2nd of September might look more interesting than a paddle session. For the rest of us, the best advice is to wait for the glassy morning on the 13th, or just wait for the next forecast.

Rusty.

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