Arrieta Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, grab a coffee – let’s have a look at Arrieta for the next couple of weeks.

To be straight with you, the outlook for Arrieta is pretty grim. It’s a sheltered reef that needs the right direction, and for the vast majority of this 16-day window, what’s on offer is just not worth paddling out for. The swell window is barely open, with tiny, weak waves and cross or cross-off winds that will keep things from ever cleaning up properly. The first recommendation doesn’t show up until the 12th of July, so we’ve got a dead run from now until then.

We’ll start from the 12th. On Sunday the 12th and Monday the 13th, the swell bumps up a little – around 3ft to 3ft from the NW and NNW, with a short 8 to 9 second period. The wave energy climbs into the moderate range (191) but the winds are a fresh cross-shore, churning up a lumpy cross-chop. It’s going to be messy. Not a standout. The water temp is about average for the time of year.

The 15th of July, Wednesday, is the pick of the entire run. Swell pushes to 4ft from the north, period still a short 8 seconds, but the energy is solidly moderate (200). The wind swings to a cross-offshore breeze from the north, keeping the faces clean. For a sheltered reef like this, that’s the best chance you’ll get for a few grindy, lined-up waves. It’s an inconsistent break, so don’t expect non-stop action – wait for the sets, and you’ll be rewarded. Crowds are possible here.

After that, it drops right off again on the 16th, back to tiny knee-high slop. Then there’s a serious pulse for the 17th and into the 18th of July. We’re talking 7ft to 8ft from the NNE, still a short period around 8 seconds, but the energy spikes into the strong range (well over 600). That’s a big push for this spot! However, the winds are either cross or cross-off, and at this size, with a short period, it’s going to be a washing machine out there. This is expert-only territory – over 8ft for a bit on the 19th, with 812 of energy. The swell direction from the NNE is not the optimum N direction this reef likes, so it might be fat and shutting down. I’d say this setup is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing at Arrieta – the conditions will be powerful and tough to manage.

The run holds some size into the 21st, with 6ft from the north and cleaner cross-off winds, but the period stays short, so it’s still a lumpy, powerful grind for experienced surfers only.

Honestly, the only true standout in this whole stretch is Wednesday the 15th – it’s not perfect, but for Arrieta in this pattern, that’s as good as it gets. The rest is either flat or too gnarly for the average surfer.

Stay patient out there.
Rusty

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