Arrifana Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what Arrifana has in store for us over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you—this is a tough one to call. The forecast is a long, flat, and frustrating stretch for the most part, but there are a couple of faint glimmers if you're patient.

The pattern is pretty grim. From the start of the period on Thursday the 23rd of July right through to the end of the month, we’re looking at a whole lot of nothing. The swell is tiny, mostly under 3 ft, with poor surf conditions flagged every day. The wind is a constant cross-off from the north to NNW, which keeps the surface clean, but there’s just no energy to work with. The combined energy barely cracks triple digits, sitting in the weak to low-moderate range (max 85 on Friday afternoon). It’s a total write-off for a solid week. The water temperature is sitting at 67°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a thicker spring suit for the first few days.

The first real hint of something comes on Sunday the 26th of July. The morning session sees a bump to 6 ft from the NNW, with a combined energy of 356 (moderate-strong), but the wind is a stiff 16 mph from the north, creating cross-off conditions. It’s still marked as marginal, not clean or quality. Not the one to get excited about.

Monday the 27th of July is interesting. The morning is glassy—wind is dead calm at 0 mph from the NW. That’s a major positive for clean surf. The swell is 4 ft from the NNW, period of 7 seconds, and combined energy of 170 (moderate). It’s described as "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions." It’s not going to blow your mind, but for the first time in the run, it’s actually surfable and glassy. That’s the best we get for the first week. The afternoon turns cross-on and choppy, so the window is narrow.

The next potential highlight is way out on the 3rd of August, over a week away. Monday morning shows a 4 ft NNW swell with a combined energy of 363 (moderate-strong) and a clean, cross-off wind from the north at 16 mph. It’s marked as marginal, but it’s the biggest, most energetic pulse we’ve seen so far. It’s worth keeping an eye on, but it’s a long-range call, so don’t bank on it.

For the standout, if I had to pick one, it’s the glassy morning of Monday the 27th of July. Sure, the waves are only 4 ft and ordinary, but a glassy, clean Arrifana with any swell at all is a rare treat. The wind is perfect, the water is clean, and you can actually get a few rides without the hassle. The other option is the 3rd of August morning, but that’s a gamble on the forecast holding.

Remember, Arrifana is a beach and reef setup, and it’s fairly exposed to the NW swell. It’s consistent, but it’s an advanced wave. Crowds are possible sometimes, so expect company if it’s the only game in town. The optimum swell direction is NW, which matches the few pulses we get.

Overall, it’s a lean period. The first week is a bust. The second week has a couple of maybes, but nothing to write home about. Keep your expectations low, and you might be pleasantly surprised.

Rusty.

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