Arrieta Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright mate, Rusty here. Let's take a look at what's coming up.

Honestly, it's a tough run. For the next two weeks, there's not much to get excited about, and a lot of that is down to the wind. The main spot is Arrieta, a reef break that's a bit of a specialist wave – it's inconsistent and rarely breaks, so when it does, you need everything to line up. And right now, it's not lining up.

The water's sitting at about 76°F, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, so you'll be comfortable in a spring suit.

From the 29th of August right through to the 3rd of September, it's a write-off. The wind is hammering from the north-northeast, fresh breezes, and the surf is all lumpy, cross-chop. The swell is there – 5 to 8 feet at times – but it's ugly. The combined energy hits around 900 early on (moderate), but it's all wind-affected.

The first real bright spot comes on the morning of Thursday, the 3rd of September. The wind swings to a gentle cross-off from the north-northwest, and the swell drops to around 7 feet from the north, period about 8 seconds. The energy is moderate at 475, and the reports say "expect good surf conditions". That afternoon it gets smaller, to about 4 feet, but the wind goes light and cross-off. It's clean.

The best bet, if you can make it, is Friday, the 4th of September, in the morning. The wind goes glassy from the northwest at just 3 mph. The swell is small, around 4 feet from the north, with a period of 8 seconds, and the combined energy is only 189 (weak). It's not going to be firing, but it will be the cleanest wave you'll see. That offshore wind is a major plus for Arrieta's reef. It's a tiny window, though – the afternoon sees the wind pick up again to a gentle breeze.

After that, it's back to the grind. The 5th and 6th are tiny and weak. The 7th sees a bit of a north-northeast windswell, but it's short period and messy. The second week is a real drought – the swell is there, but it's all short-period, wind-blown slop, and the energy is weak (low 200s). The biggest swell comes around the 11th and 12th of September, 6 to 7 feet from the north-northeast, but it's all cross-shore wind and lumpy. For a sheltered spot like Arrieta, that's a no-go.

Bottom line: if you're keen, the only real chance is the glassy morning of Friday, the 4th of September. Otherwise, it's a two-week wait for something better. The lack of consistent surf is pretty normal here, so don't hold your breath. Forecasts can change, but for now, it's a quiet one.

Rusty.

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