Arrieta Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what Arrieta has in store for us.

Honestly, mate, it’s a pretty grim run for the next two and a half weeks. There’s a long, quiet stretch coming up, and the only window that looks remotely promising is a few days in the first week of September, but even that’s a tough sell. The water’s sitting at a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, about 76°, but that’s small comfort when the surf’s this ordinary.

Right now through the end of August, it’s all cross-shore to cross-off winds, fresh breezes, and a messy, lumpy sea state. Swell sizes hover between 6 ft to 8 ft from the north-northeast, but the period is a short 7 to 8 seconds – that’s windswell junk. The wave energy is moderate at best (307 to 1381), and every session is rated poor surf conditions. There's nothing to get excited about.

As we move into the first week of September, things really fall apart. From Tuesday the 2nd, we get a pulse of stronger cross-shore winds whipping up to 28 mph with swell hitting 8 ft from the north-northeast with an 8-second period. The energy spikes (around 1000), but with that much wind and a short period, it’s messy, choppy, and strictly for the hardcore or the kite crew. A beach setup like this with that much wind and poor quality? Honestly, it’s more interesting for kite surfing.

By Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th, the wind finally backs off to a gentle breeze from the northwest, but the swell drops fast. You get 5 ft to 5 ft from the north with an 8-second period (energy down to 259 and 233). Conditions clean up, but the forecast calls it “surfable waves but very ordinary.” It’s small, short-period, and lacking any real punch.

Then from the 5th of September right through to the 10th, it’s a proper dead zone. Swell sizes stay below 3 ft and often drop to 1 ft to 2 ft. The period does stretch out a bit to 10–12 seconds around the 7th and 8th, but with such tiny energy (as low as 75) it’s barely breaking. Even the 9th of September morning sees a brief offshore wind from the north-west, but with only 2 ft from the north-northwest at 10 seconds, it’s ankle-snappers at best. The rating remains poor or very ordinary.

There is a flicker of life on the 11th and 12th of September, with swell jumping back up to 7 ft to 7 ft from the north-northeast, 8-second period, and moderate energy around 505 to 650. But the wind goes cross to cross-off again with moderate breezes, and it’s still rated marginal or poor.

Overall, the best call is a very quiet window on Thursday the 4th of September at Arrieta. The swell is only 5 ft from the north, but the wind is a light breeze from the north-west, conditions are clean, and the water temp anomaly is a touch warmer than normal. The wave comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary” – that’s about as good as it gets. It’s an inconsistent reef break and waves are rarely worth the drive, so if you’re desperate for a paddle, that’s your day.

Rusty.

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