Arrieta Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get straight into it.

The next 16 days here are a proper mixed bag, and honestly, for the majority of the run, we’re going to be fighting the wind more than we’re riding the waves. Arrieta is our main and really only spot in the mix, and while there is swell around, the conditions are going to make you work for it. It’s not going to be a complete washout, but you’ll need to pick your moments, and even then, it's going to be pretty ordinary. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

We start off with a bumpy, lumpy couple of days. Monday the 17th is a write-off, with a moderate cross-shore breeze chopping up the 4ft of swell. Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th are the best of the early week, but that’s not saying much. We’ve got 3ft of swell, and while the mornings are clean with a gentle cross-offshore breeze, the scores are low, and it’s just very average. The energy is weak, around 138-147, so it’s small and pretty gutless. You might get a few crumbly ones, but this is more about getting wet than getting barreled.

Thursday through Saturday, the breeze picks up again, and the surf gets messier. The swell stays small, around 3ft, but the clean conditions turn to chop, and the quality drops right off. We see the energy start to build a little to around 220 by Friday, but this is still a lot of work for not much reward.

Sunday the 23rd has a little more life in it with a 3ft morning push and a bit more on the afternoon with 4ft. The period jumps to 9-10 seconds, and there’s a bit more energy in the water, around 265-311. Still, the cross-off breeze keeps it clean but not great. It’s another “surfable but very ordinary” vibe.

The real story here is the second week. It’s not good. Monday the 24th is blown out, and then from Tuesday the 25th, we see a run of poor surf conditions that just won’t quit. The swell builds to 7ft by Tuesday, and the energy is ramping up, from 486 to 514. But it’s all accompanied by strong cross-shore winds and a messy cross-chop. It’s not clean, it’s not fun, and it’s going to be a battle.

The waves keep building through to the 27th, hitting 8ft with energy around 800+, but the wind is up at 40 km/h and the conditions are just grim. For a sheltered reef break, this is going to be a washing machine. It’s big enough for experienced surfers only, but the wind is going to make it impossible to enjoy. Honestly, at this point, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The final few days of the month and into September don’t get any better. The swell stays in the 5ft to 8ft range, and while there’s plenty of energy – we’re talking 800+ to over 1200 by the 1st of September – the wind remains onshore or cross-shore, keeping everything messy and blown out. The period is short, around 7-8 seconds, which means it’s going to be lumpy and lack any real push.

So, here’s the deal: the standout is not really a standout. The only remotely surfable windows are Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th, where you have clean-ish conditions and small but rideable 3ft waves. Again, these are weak, the energy is low, so it’s for the log or the foamie. Nothing else gets close. The long-range stuff is promising in size but a complete mess with the wind. Keep the expectations low, and maybe just go for a swim.

The short version: the first few days are small and average, and then it gets big, windy, and ugly. If you’re desperate, get out early on the 18th or 19th. Otherwise, give it a miss.

Rusty.

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