Arrieta Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Arrieta.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this isn’t a week for the faint-hearted or the beginner looking for a gentle roll-in. The whole 16-day window is a real mixed bag, and frankly, it’s a struggle to find a truly good session. The swell is going to be hanging around, but the wind is the real enemy here, and it’s making a mess of things for a long stretch.

We start off on Monday the 20th of July, and it’s already a write-off. We’ve got a 8ft swell from the NNE, but the wind is howling from the same direction at 25 mph, so it’s a nasty cross-shore. The water is a touch warmer than normal at 73°F, but that’s no comfort. The combined energy is moderate (679), but it means nothing with that chop. The forecast calls this poor surf, and it is.

Tuesday the 21st is a little better. The wind is still strong from the N at 22 mph, but it swings to a cross-offshore direction in the afternoon. The swell drops a fraction to 7ft, and we get some clean lines. The period is still short at 8 seconds, so it’s a bit crumbly. The energy is still moderate (483). It’s the best of a bad bunch for the near term, but it’s not a standout.

Wednesday the 22nd through Friday the 24th sees the swell hover around 6ft to 8ft, and the wind stays mostly cross-off from the N. The conditions are clean, but the period is short (7-8 seconds), so the waves are weak and fat. The energy is moderate (395-697). It’s surfable, but you’re working for it.

Now, Saturday the 25th of July – the swell starts to pump up, hitting 10ft. The combined energy jumps into the strong zone (1148). But here’s the kicker: the wind is a powerful 28 mph from the NNE, and it’s cross-off, so the faces will be clean. But 10ft and that short period (8 seconds) is a lot of washing machine. This is a big, powerful, and messy wave. Only for the experts who like a challenge. The crowds at Arrieta can show up sometimes, so expect company if you’re brave enough.

Sunday the 26th is the same size, 10ft, but the wind goes back to a straight cross-shore, making it a complete mess again. The energy is very strong (1368), but it’s all chop.

We see a bit of a drop from Monday the 27th onwards, with the swell settling back to 8ft, then 6ft by the 28th. The wind stays manageable, mostly cross-off from the N, and the conditions are clean. The period is still short (7-8 seconds), so the energy is moderate (354-989). It’s consistent, but it’s not a classic Arrieta day.

The second week, from the 29th of July into August, looks more of the same. Swell between 6ft and 8ft, NNE, with a short period. The wind is a steady 16-19 mph from the N or NNE, keeping it mostly cross-off and clean. The energy is moderate (373-931). It’s a long run of average, clean, but not special surf. The water temperature anomaly is a touch warmer than normal, but at this point, it’s just a footnote.

The Best of the Bunch
Honestly, there’s no single day that screams “drop everything and go.” The best you’re going to get is a consistent, clean, but average wave. The standout for the whole period is likely Tuesday the 21st of July (afternoon) and Wednesday the 22nd of July. The swell is manageable (7ft to 6ft), the wind is cross-off and clean, and the energy is moderate. It’s the closest we get to a decent session. The rest is just a grind.

For the long range, the period around Monday the 27th of July looks promising with a 8ft swell and clean cross-off winds, but it’s a week away, and the short period is a letdown. Don’t bank on it yet.

To sum it up: Arrieta is going to have waves, but they’re going to be wind-affected, short-period, and generally poor quality for the first week. The second week is more consistent and clean, but still lacking that real punch. If you’re in the water, you’ll get a ride, but you won’t be telling stories about it.

Rusty.

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