Point Arena Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Howdy, Rusty here. Let’s chew on what Point Arena has cookin’ for the next couple weeks.

First off, I gotta warn ya – this forecast starts with a real bummer. We’ve got a long stretch of nothing worth paddling into. The first day with any real swell to talk about is Sunday the 23rd, but it’s ugly. The wind is out of the NW at 12 to 15 mph with a cross-offshore direction, which is normally a good sign, but the swell is total garbage. Sunday morning you’re looking at a 6ft swell from the NW with a short 7-second period, and the combined energy is moderate at 544. It’s just messy.

From now all the way through Monday the 25th, it’s a desert. The waves are either tiny, wind-chopped, or just plain unrideable. A proper gap in the action.

We get a little something on Monday the 25th morning, but honestly, it’s marginal. The swell drops to 3ft from the SW, with a very long 16-second period. That long period can be a blessing on a reef or point, but at a beach break it can turn into a closeout machine. The water temp at Point Arena is 58°, which is about average for the time of year. The wind is light from the WNW at 6 mph, but it’s cross-onshore, and the combined energy is moderate (381). It’s a “maybe if you’re desperate” kinda day.

The one and only standout in this whole 16-day window, and it’s a long way off, is Saturday the 5th of September. Keep in mind this is a long-range call, so it’s not locked in yet, but it looks like a proper pulse of NW groundswell. Saturday morning we’re talking a solid 8ft swell from the NW with a 9-second period, and the combined energy is a strong 1002. By the afternoon, it’s pushing 10ft with a 9-second period, and the energy skyrockets to a very strong 1525. That’s some serious power. The wind is cross-offshore from the NNW at 18-22 mph, which will groom the face perfectly. This is for experts only – 10ft is well into big-wave territory. For the crew who know what they’re doing, Point Arena (Point Arena) could be firing. The swell direction is NW, and the guidance says optimum is NW, so it’s hitting the break dead-on.

For the rest of the first week of September, we’ve got moderate-sized NW swell (5ft to 7ft) but the wind or cross-chop keeps messing it up. It’s frustrating because there’s energy in the water, but the conditions just won’t line up for clean, fun waves.

Honestly, if you’re not an expert, or if the 5th of September feels like a lifetime away, this forecast is mostly about waiting. The combo of strong NW winds and a beach setup makes it look more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing on most days.

Hang tight, keep an eye on that 5th of September window – that’s your best bet.

Rusty.

Read more