Arrieta Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what Arrieta has got cooking for us over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this outlook is a tough one. We’ve got a long dry spell on our hands. The first real recommendation doesn’t show up until Sunday the 5th of July, and even then, it’s nothing to write home about. From there, we slide into a frustrating gap where the conditions just don’t line up for a decent paddle until much later in the window.

That first glimpse of surf on Sunday morning the 5th at Arrieta is a real teaser. We’re looking at a small 3ft N swell, with a 9-second period. The energy is moderate at best (192). The water temp is sitting at 71°, which is pretty average for this time of year. Wind is from the NNW at 9 mph, a cross-offshore flow that keeps the surface clean. It’s surfable, but it’s ordinary – nothing special. The crowds will be around sometimes, so you might have company for those weak little lines.

After that Sunday morning, the surf quality just tanks. We go days with tiny, messy swell and nasty cross-shore winds. Honestly, from Monday the 6th right through to Saturday the 11th, it’s not worth paddling out. The swell heights are tiny, the periods are short, and the wind is all over the place – mostly cross or cross-off with moderate to fresh breezes. The combined energy stays low, barely cracking triple digits most of the time, and the scores are all zeros. It’s a proper write-off.

Now, things start to get a bit more interesting in the second week. We begin to see some pulse in the water, but the wind remains a persistent issue. On Sunday the 12th, there’s a 3ft NNW swell with a moderate energy reading (160), but the cross-shore wind is still messing it up. The same story plays through Monday the 13th and Tuesday the 14th, where the energy finally pushes into the 200s, but the conditions are still far from clean.

The real potential, though, shows up at the very tail end of the forecast. Keep your eye on Saturday the 18th and Sunday the 19th of July. We’ve got a solid push of NNE swell building. On Saturday, we’re talking 6ft at 7 seconds, and the energy jumps to strong levels (361). That’s a lot of water moving, but with that short period, it’s going to be a bit closed out and messy – better for the experts. The wind is cross-shore, which adds a chop to it.

But look at Sunday the 19th of July. That’s the standout. Arrieta should see a clean 7ft NNE swell, still at an 8-second period, but the energy is very strong (679). And the wind? It’s a cross-offshore breeze from the N at 19 mph, cleaning the faces up nicely. That’s your best bet in the whole 16 days. It’s going to be a beast, though – well overhead, powerful, and certainly too big for beginners. If you’re an advanced surfer looking for some punch, that Sunday is the session to pencil in. Just be aware that the 7ft range is strictly for the experienced crew.

Monday the 20th keeps that 7ft NNE swell going, but the wind swings back to a cross-shore, so it’ll be lumpier.

So, the bottom line: you’ve got a long, disappointing wait. The first week is a total loss. The only real beacon of hope is that last weekend, especially Sunday the 19th of July, for some solid, clean, powerful waves for the brave.

Stay patient, keep an eye on the charts, and I’ll catch you out there.

Rusty.

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