Point Arena Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, this is Rusty.

Let’s talk about Point Arena. Lookin’ at the next couple weeks, it’s a bit of a mixed bag, but there’s some real potential if you know when to paddle out. The main story here is a whole lot of wind and waves, but not always the good kind.

Thursday the 16th kicks things off with a decent northwest swell running 7 ft in the morning, bumping to 8 ft by afternoon, but a stiff northerly breeze has it looking a bit ragged. Not your top pick.

The real tease comes Friday the 17th. It’s small, just 3 ft to 3 ft, but that’s a long-period, 17-second groundswell from the west-northwest. The wave energy is in the moderate range (1140-1156) but with that long period, the shape should be nice at a reef like Point Arena. However, the wind is cross or cross-offshore, so there'll be some texture on the face. This is more of a promise than a party.

Saturday the 18th and Sunday the 19th are pretty average. Still that long-period 16-17 second swell but the size is up and down and the wind stays cross, keeping things lumpy. It’s rideable, but you won’t be telling stories about it.

Then… hold on to your board. We get some size building on Monday the 27th. Monday morning is a solid 8 ft from the northwest, and by Monday afternoon things get serious. The swell hits 12 ft out of the northwest, with a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy is a beefy 1989, so there’s a lot of water moving. That afternoon session is flagged as potentially too big and powerful even for this spot, which has that big-wave reef character. If you are not a seasoned charger, give this one a wide berth. For the experts among you, this is the window to watch, but go in with eyes wide open.

Following that, Tuesday the 28th stays big with 10 ft waves, but lighter winds on Wednesday the 29th drop the size to 8 ft and 7 ft. The morning sees a light westerly cross-on, but it’s still big and choppy.

Wait. There’s a little hidden gem in this whole forecast. Look at Thursday the 30th. The swell has backed off to a manageable 5 ft from the northwest. The wind goes glassy in the afternoon from the southwest, and the report says “expect good surf conditions” with that glassy surface. That is a major positive. For a day when everything else is messy, that afternoon window on the 30th looks like a proper score. The tide should be working in your favor. For a bit over a week out, it’s a hopeful one.

Overall, the consistency here is pretty good. This spot usually doesn’t stay flat for long, and the forecasts can always turn a blank stretch into a fun one. But if you’re picking one day to cancel your plans, circle Thursday the 30th afternoon. That’s the one that has me stoked.

Water temp is unremarkable for July, pretty average for the time of year.

-Rusty

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