Arrifana Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks. Rusty here. Let’s take a hard look at Arrifana. This is a prime exposed beach and reef setup that needs a solid NW swell to do its thing. The optimum direction is NW, and we’re getting that, but the timing and the wind are going to test your patience.

We’re looking at a pretty quiet start. For the first week, from Monday the 20th through Saturday the 26th, the surf is tiny and mostly messy. The wind is a persistent cross-offshore from the north, which is clean, but the swell is weak. On Monday the 20th, we’ve got a tiny 2 ft NW swell with a short period, so the wave energy is barely a whisper. That’s a full 7 days of "poor surf conditions" on the cards. No point in paddling out for that.

The first real sign of life doesn’t arrive until Sunday the 26th. The swell bumps up to 6 ft from the NW, but the period is still short at 8 seconds, and the wind is a stiff 19 mph cross-off. The wave energy is moderate (378), but it’s going to be a bumpy, blown-out mess. That’s a kite-surfing day, not a surfing day, especially for a beach and reef break.

The standout window, and the only real hope in this 16-day run, is a small window around Tuesday morning, July 28th. The swell is 5 ft from the NW with a period of 9 seconds, which is a nice, solid, long-period groundswell. The water temperature is 69°, which is about average for the time of year. But the real magic is the wind: glassy, dead calm, from the SSE. That’s as good as it gets for clean conditions. The wave energy is moderate (281) and the forecast is calling for "good surf conditions." This is your best shot. It’s not huge, but it will be clean, lined-up, and fun for the advanced crew. Crowds are possible at Arrifana, so get there early.

After that, the surf drops off again. Wednesday the 29th has glassy conditions but puny 3 ft surf. The rest of the week into early August is a procession of small, weak swells in the 1.0 ft to 2 ft range, with the wind turning onshore, ruining any chance of a clean wave. There’s another pulse on Monday the 3rd of August with 5 ft from the NNW, but that’s over a week away and the wind is back to a strong cross-off, so it’s a long shot. The energy is moderate (243-273) but the quality isn’t there.

Honestly, if you’re chasing clean waves, circle Tuesday the 28th on your calendar. The rest of the month is a write-off unless the forecasts change. It’s a dry spell, but it happens here.

Rusty.

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