Arrieta Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for a proper paddle. There’s a whole lot of blown-out, chopped-up surf on the horizon, and I’m not going to sugarcoat it. For the first stretch, we’re looking at a lot of cross-shore wind and messy conditions. It’s a long bumpy road before we see anything with real promise, and even then, it’s a bit of a tease.

We kick things off with a series of poor days. The swell is there, but it’s all over the place, coming in from the north-northeast with short, weak periods. The energy is moderate at best, with values like (407) and (334), but it’s just not organised. The wind is a constant problem, ruining what could otherwise be a fun little pulse. This is a stretch where you’re better off doing anything else.

The real kicker arrives on Thursday the 17th. The swell starts to build, with the energy jumping into strong territory, hitting (617) and then (685). By Friday the 18th, it gets serious. We’re looking at 8ft of north-northeast swell with the energy blowing past a thousand–(1179) and (1067)–that is some serious grunt. But here's the catch: it’s still these short, 8 to 9 second periods, and the wind is a strong, clean cross-offshore. That means it’ll be big and powerful, but with that short period, it could be a bit unruly. This is not for the faint of heart. At 8ft, this is expert territory, no question about it. For the average surfer, that’s a pass. There’s a chance the setup looks more interesting for the kite crowd than the paddle crew.

Then it backs off a touch into the 19th, but the conditions are marginal at best. The energy is still there on the morning of the 19th at (1198), but the wind swings to a cross-shore and puts a chop on it, dropping the quality. It’s a frustrating end to the week with all that power and nowhere clean to ride it.

So, to be honest, if you’re looking for the standout, there isn’t one in the true sense. The only real highlight is that pulse of size on the 18th for the expert crew out at Arrieta. It’s an inconsistent spot at the best of times, and this is no exception. With 8ft of north-northeast swell, it’s going to be a heavy, charging sort of day. If you've got the skills and the nerve, it could be epic, but you'll be taking your life in your hands. For everyone else, this stretch is a write-off.

-Rusty

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