Arrieta Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

First up, the water at Arrieta is sitting at 75°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – a nice little bonus for the session.

The 16-day window kicks off with a real tease. You’ve got a solid Sunday afternoon on the 23rd of August that’s worth paddling out for. The swell is 5 ft from the NNW with a period of 14 seconds, so that’s a proper groundswell with long lines. The combined energy is pumping at 915 (moderate to strong), and with a light NNW breeze making it cross-off, the surface is going to be clean. This is a reef break that’s inconsistent and only for advanced surfers, so don’t expect a crowd to be a problem, but know your limits. The swell direction is NNW, but this spot prefers N, so it’s a little off its best angle, but still, it’s the best on offer early on.

Then the wheels fall off. From Monday the 24th all the way through to Saturday the 29th, it’s a write-off. Strong cross winds, lumpy chop, and messy conditions. The swell sticks around, but the wind just ruins it. On the 28th and 29th, the swell gets big – 8 ft to 8 ft – but with a 25 mph cross-wind, it’s a washing machine. Not for paddling, maybe interesting for the kite crew.

Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st offer a glimmer of hope. The wind backs off a bit, swinging cross-off from the NNW, and the swell sits around 6 ft to 8 ft from the NNE. The period is short (8 seconds) though, so it’s a bit of a windswell bump, but the surface will be clean. The combined energy is moderate (375-574). It’s surfable but not a standout.

The real standout, the one that has me excited, is Monday the 7th of September. That’s a long way off, so keep an eye on it, but the potential is there. A 3 ft to 3 ft swell from the WNW with a period of 14 seconds. That’s that long-period groundswell energy again, and it matches the optimum swell direction for Arrieta perfectly. The combined energy is moderate to strong (533-637). With a light N to NNW breeze, it’s going to be clean and glassy. This is a classic setup for this reef – the waves will have shape and power. The crowd situation is only “sometimes,” so you might have it to yourself.

In between, the first week of September is a mess of big, lumpy, wind-affected swell. The 2nd and 3rd see 10 ft waves, but you’re fighting 25-28 mph cross-winds. That’s expert-only territory if you’re brave, but honestly, it’s a no-go for most.

So, for the whole 16 days, you’ve got a short window this Sunday, the 23rd, and then a promising but uncertain long-range call for Monday the 7th of September. The rest is a write-off. Typical for this spot, when it’s off, it’s off.

Rusty.

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