Point Arena Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Grab a coffee and let’s get into it.

Alright, so we’ve got a bit of a wild ride ahead here at Point Arena. The water is sitting at a chilly 52°F, which is a full 5°F colder than normal for this time of year – that’s a real shock to the system, so a thick wetsuit is a must. We’re looking at a long stretch of big, powerful NW swell, but with a catch. The first few days are going to be a test of nerve.

The standout period starts on Sunday, the 2nd of August. For the experienced crew, this is where it’s at. We’re seeing a solid 12ft to 13ft NW groundswell (with a period of 9-10 seconds) rolling in. The combined energy is a massive 1850 to 2661 (moderate to strong), and the wind is a clean cross-off from the NNW. This is proper, powerful, heavy reef-break stuff at Point Arena. It’s going to be a challenge, no doubt, but for the experts, this is the best on offer. The wind is favourable, but the size is the real story here.

Now, if that’s a bit too much of a handful, keep your eye on Tuesday afternoon, the 4th of August. The swell drops to a more manageable 7ft from the NW (9-second period), and the combined energy is a moderate 676. More importantly, the wind goes glassy – absolute dead calm. For a brief window, you’ll get clean, glassy conditions on a dropping swell. That’s a sweet spot for the intermediate crowd.

The big stuff returns from Sunday, the 9th, through Monday, the 10th of August, with 12ft to 13ft NW swell again. The energy is off the charts (2412 to 3330), but it’s a cross-off wind. It’s the same story as the 2nd: big, clean, and only for the very brave.

Honestly, there’s a long gap of mediocrity and poor conditions from the 5th through the 8th, and then again from the 11th onwards. The swell window is there, but the quality and wind alignment just aren’t there for a good paddle session. The 14th of August offers a weird, long-period 16-second pulse from the WNW, but the swell is tiny at 3ft, and the wind is a stiff cross-off. It’s more of a hope than a promise.

So, to sum it up: the real standout is the forecast for Sunday, the 2nd of August. It’s a big, powerful, clean day for the experienced surfer. For the rest of us, aim for that glassy window on Tuesday afternoon, the 4th of August. The rest of the fortnight is a bit of a mixed bag, with a lot of raw power but not much finesse.

Rusty.

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