Playa de Arrigunaga Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a hard look at what’s coming our way for Playa de Arrigunaga over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – it’s not gonna be a world-class run, but we’ve got a few windows worth paddling out for.

The overall pattern is pretty quiet for the first several days. We’re looking at a long stretch of small, weak swell with poor conditions. From Wednesday the 22nd right through to the end of the month, don’t expect much. The waves are tiny, with swell heights mostly under 3 ft, and the periods are short – around 6 to 7 seconds – so there’s no real energy behind them. The combined swell energy is weak, sitting in the low double digits (73) on Wednesday the 22nd morning, and it barely climbs. The winds are messy too, often cross, cross-on, or even onshore, which chops things up. Friday the 24th afternoon sees a bump to 4 ft from the WNW, but with a period of only 5 seconds and onshore wind at 12 mph, it’s churned up slop. That’s not surf, that’s a washing machine.

Then on Saturday the 25th, we get a bit more size – 7 ft to 7 ft from the WNW, with a period of 7 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 401, which is moderate, but the wind is howling 19-22 mph cross-on and onshore. That’s raw, lumpy power, but it’s blown out and messy. Honestly, for a beach break like Arrigunaga, that setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing too unusual.

We finally get a little glimmer of hope on Monday the 27th. The swell picks up a touch, 4 ft to 5 ft, and the period stretches to 10 seconds – meaning better shaped groundswell. The combined energy hits 292 (weak to moderate), and the winds turn lighter, cross-on or cross. It’s still marginal, but it’s the first sign of life. Tuesday the 28th morning is actually the standout of the whole window. We’ve got 4 ft from the NNW with a 9-second period, combined energy of 255, and clean cross-off wind from the east at 9 mph. That’s rideable, and the conditions will be clean. It’s an intermediate sort of day, not for beginners, and the crowds are often here, so you’ll have company. That’s the one to aim for.

After that, it drops off again. The rest of the month into early August is a drag. The swell is tiny, the periods are short, and the wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore. There’s a glassy morning on the 31st with 3 ft from the NW and a 10-second period, but the energy is low (190) and the waves are just ordinary. The first week of August looks even worse – tiny, weak, and inconsistent. The 3rd of August has a completely glassy morning with 2 ft, but there’s next to no energy (67) and the period is short. It’s a flat spell.

So, to sum it up: the best on offer is Tuesday the 28th of July morning. Get out there. The rest of the 16 days is mostly a write-off, with a blank run from the 22nd through the 24th, and then another quiet spell from the 29th into August. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a pick-and-choose affair.

Stay salty,
Rusty

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