Arrieta Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get this out there. To be straight with you, the next couple of weeks are looking pretty damn slow for our stretch of coast. We’ve got a long stretch of nothing special before we see any real potential. The first decent chance doesn’t even show up until around the 17th, and even that is just barely surfable. Honestly, for the first week or so, you’re better off finding something else to do. The swell is there, but it’s all short-period, messy, and the winds are just chopping it up. It’s a classic case of a lot of energy, but zero shape.

We’re looking at a solid gap of over a week with no recommendations. The waves are just not working. The wind is either cross or cross-off, and the period is too short to make anything of the size. It’s going to be a frustrating week for anyone checking the surf.

Now, let’s talk specifics. When we do get a pulse around the 17th, it’s still not great. The morning of the 17th has a little bit of life, but it's ordinary. The swell is coming from the N at 5ft, but the period is only 8 seconds. It’s weak energy, too, with a combined energy of 278. It’s just not going to be worth the paddle unless you’re desperate.

The whole period is littered with short-period swells. We see periods of 6, 7, and 8 seconds, which is never a good sign. It means the waves are going to be soft, walled, and generally unappealing. The wind, while mostly cross-off, is just too strong to keep things clean. It’s that constant chop that will have you fighting the board the whole time.

Now, here is the thing. The only spot we have on the radar is Arrieta. It’s a reef break and it is inconsistent, so you’d want to be sure you’re there when it switches on. But with this forecast, it’s not going to happen. The swell is coming from the NNE, which is not its optimum direction. It’s a sheltered spot, so it can handle some of the wind, but this period is just too weak and short-period to do anything with it.

To be fair, the water temp is sitting at 74°, which is a touch warmer than average for this time of year. So, if you do get in, you won’t need a thick suit. But that’s about the only positive thing I can say.

The second week is more of the same, with a possible slight improvement in the wind on the 22nd, but the swell is still small, and the period is still short. The 21st has a tiny pulse from the WNW at 0.7ft, but that’s just a whisper of something. The energy is pitiful, only 20. Don’t get your hopes up.

The 23rd sees a bit more size, but the wind turns to a cross-shore, which is going to make it lumpy. It’s a frustrating outlook, plain and simple. The setup is a beach and reef mix, and with this forecast, it just looks more like a day for the kite surfers than the paddle surfers. There’s energy, but it’s not for us.

So, keep your boards in the car, but don’t rush out. It’s a long stretch of nothing, but these things never last forever. We’ll get a proper swell soon enough.

Rusty.

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