Arrieta Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again, but in feet. Gotta be straight with you – the next couple of weeks at Arrieta are a tough watch. We're looking at a long, slow grind with hardly any real windows for a decent paddle. Let's break it down.

The whole 16-day stretch kicks off with a bit of a tease. On Saturday, July 4th, we get a clean 4ft swell from the north, with a 9-second period. The morning is glassy with a slight offshore breeze, and the combined energy is moderate at 288 – feels like there’s a chance, but honestly, the conditions are pretty ordinary. The water temp here is about average for this time of year, nothing wild.

But from that afternoon onwards, it's a rough ride. The north-northwest wind picks up to 15 km/h and stays cross-offshore, and the swell drops. We’ve got a solid run from Sunday, July 5th, all the way through to the end of the first week with nothing but "poor surf conditions." There are a few days with waves around 3ft (0.9m to 1.0m), but the period is short (8 seconds) and the wind is constantly messing things up. The energy drops into the weak zone (around 63 to 175).

The second week doesn’t get much better. From July 11th through to the 14th, it’s mostly fresh northeasterly winds (30-35 km/h) creating lumpy, choppy conditions. The swell stays small, and the energy is weak. Then on July 14th, we see a little pulse – 5ft swell from the north with a 9-second period, but the cross-wind and chop kill it. The energy is moderate at 396, but with gusts at 35 km/h and poor conditions, it's more of a kite session than a surf session. The same goes for the 6ft swell on July 17th – it’s getting a bit punchy (over 5ft, so not for beginners) but the period is short at 6 seconds, and the wind is still messy. The 6ft on July 18th is similar; a bit too big for most and the combo of cross-wind and short period makes it a bumpy mess.

Honestly, there isn’t a single standout session here. The best on offer – and I say that with a heavy heart – is the very first window on Saturday morning, July 4th, at Arrieta. It’s a reef break that’s inconsistent and sheltered, and when it works the optimum direction is north. We get that, but the quality is poor. The morning is your only shot at something clean, with light offshore wind and a waist-high wave. But it’s just not worth getting excited about.

So, that’s the story. A lot of frustrating days ahead. Forecasts can change, but right now, you’re better off waiting for a better pattern to settle in.

Rusty.

Read more