Point Arena Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s not beat around the bush. The next couple of days are a total loss. We have some swell, sure, but the wind is blowing the wrong way and it’s turning the ocean into a washing machine. Not worth getting out of bed for.

The first glimpse of something decent is on Saturday the 9th. Swell is a solid 10ft, but it’s still rough with the cross-off breeze. The energy is ramping up, hitting 1473 by the afternoon. It’s a powerful west-northwest swell with a 9-second period, which is a bit short, but it has some grunt. Point Arena (Mendocino) is a reef, so it can take some size, but it won’t be perfect.

Sunday the 10th, we see the wind ease off a little. The swell is still pumping at 8ft, and the energy is still high at 1223 in the morning. It’s still cross-shore, but lighter, making for a slightly cleaner surface. It’s another powerful, grinding day. The water is sitting at 56°, which is a bit colder than usual for this time of year, so the wetsuit needs to be thick.

Monday the 11th is the one. This is the standout. We’ve got the same 10ft size, but the energy is highest we’ve seen, hitting 1512. The wind is cross, but it’s a gentle breeze, so the face should be glassier. This is a serious, heavy swell for experienced surfers only. The reef will be working hard, and the currents will be strong. This is the day to circle.

After that, it fades. The swell backs off through the week, and the winds turn onshore and messy. The 14th and 15th look weak, with waves dropping to around 3ft and energy draining away. Not worth the effort.

There is one more interesting blip on the 19th. The swell only picks up to around 4ft, but it’s a long-period swell at 12 seconds. This means more punch and better shape for the size. The energy reading is 709, which is moderate. The wind is cross-off and the surf looks clean. This could be a sneaky good day on the reef, but it’s far out, so treat it as a “maybe” rather than a “for sure.”

The rest of the second week is small and junky. We’re talking knee to waist high dribble with cross-shore winds. Not the time for a surf trip. If Point Arena was a beach break, you might think about the kite, but on a reef, it’s a no-go.

The honest truth? The whole period is a bit average. The standout is Monday the 11th. If you can only get one session, make it that one. Big, powerful, and with a touch less wind. The 9th and 10th are also options, just not as clean. And that long-period swell on the 19th is interesting, but we’ll see how it develops.

Take it easy,
Rusty

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