Arrieta Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what Arrieta’s got cookin’ for us over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this ain’t gonna be one of those classic Arrieta sessions you remember. The whole 16-day window is a bit of a struggle. We’re starting with a long, dry gap. The first real chance for a wave comes up on Thursday, the 3rd of September, but it’s thin. After that, it’s a whole lot of nothing until we see a little pulse of swell around the 14th, but before we get too excited, the quality is questionable.

The Only Real Window

The one day that pokes its head above the water and might be worth a paddle is Thursday morning, the 3rd of September. This is the standout, but only for the patient surfer. The swell will be a modest 6 ft from the NNE with an 8-second period. The combined wave energy is moderate (437), so there’s some push there. The wind is a light breeze, giving us cross-offshore conditions, which will keep the surface clean. Arrieta is a sheltered reef, so it needs the right direction, and this NNE swell is close to its optimum N direction. It’s a tricky spot, being an advanced-only wave that is inconsistent. Don’t expect a crowd; they are only "sometimes" here, but this won’t be a circus anyway. Just don’t bring a beginner board. The water temp is about average for this time of year.

The Dust-on-the-Horizon Window

Then we get another big gap. After that Thursday morning, the whole run from the 4th to the 14th is a bust. We get windy mornings, clean but gutless afternoons, or just flatness. The swell hits 8 ft on Wednesday the 2nd, but with 25 mph cross-winds, that’s just strong, messy cross-chop before the good window even opens. The energy dips down to low two-digit and three-digit numbers after the 3rd, meaning small, weak energy.

The last glimmer is on the 14th of September, Monday morning. We have a clean 4 ft swell from the N with an 8-second period, but the combined energy is only 352 and the score is “very ordinary.” There’s just not enough power or consistency to call it a session.

The Bottom Line

Look, this is a rare blank run for an area that does have consistency. But this is what we’ve got. If you are desperate to get wet, the Thursday morning of the 3rd is your only play. For the rest of us, it’s a good time to wax the board and wait. Forecasts change, and it won’t stay poor forever, but for now, the ocean has other plans.

Rusty.

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