Arrieta Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this Arrieta (Spain) forecast is a tough one to swallow. The first solid window of surf is a long way off, and even then, it’s not going to be a classic. We’ve got a big gap of poor to marginal conditions stretching from now, the 24th of July, all the way through the 1st of August. That’s a full week-plus of mostly cross-shore winds, lumpy chop, and poor surf quality. The longer you wait, the more the wind tends to clean up, but the swell stays messy and short-period for ages.

The first real glimmer of hope doesn’t arrive until the 2nd of August. Sunday morning (2nd August) we start to see a change. The wind turns light and from the north, giving us a clean, cross-off breeze. The swell is still a bit second-rate at 6 ft from the NE, but the combined energy is moderate at 485. It’s not a standout, but it’s the first time the conditions actually look like they’re worth paddling out for.

The real standout of the whole 16-day window comes on the 3rd and 4th of August. This is where it gets interesting. On Monday morning (3rd August), we get a true offshore wind from the NW, barely a breath at 3 mph, making it glassy clean. The swell is 6 ft from the NNE, but the energy jumps up to 643, showing some real push. Then Monday afternoon, the period stretches to 12 seconds – a proper groundswell – and the swell drops to 3 ft. That long period is going to create some beautifully shaped, lined-up waves, but at a beach break like Arrieta, it might break a little too straight. It’s better suited to a point or reef, but with the light offshore wind, it’ll be clean and fun.

Tuesday the 4th of August is the best of the run. The morning has a steady 4 ft swell from the north with a 12-second period, light offshore NW wind, and combined energy of 487. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing weird. This is the pick of the fortnight. The afternoon gets even better – the swell bumps to 5 ft, period stays at 11 seconds, and the wind is light offshore again. The energy climbs to 664. It’s not huge, but it’s the best combination of clean, glassy conditions and decent wave quality we’ll see. The crowds are listed as “sometimes,” so you might have some company, but it shouldn’t be a circus.

After that, from the 5th of August onward, the swell drops back to small, short-period junk, and the wind goes cross-off again. By the 8th of August, the swell tries to pulse back up to 8 ft from the NNE, but the period is a poor 8 seconds, and the conditions are only marginal. That’s too big and short-period for a clean session – better left for the kite crowd.

So, bottom line: the first week is a write-off. Hang tight. The 3rd and 4th of August are your best bet, with Tuesday the 4th being the absolute standout. Clean, light winds, and a touch of groundswell.

Rusty

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