Point Arena Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s break down what Point Arena’s got for you over the next couple of weeks. Water temp is about 58°, right where it should be for this time of year.

First off, there’s a big dry spell. From now all the way through Tuesday, September 8th, the surf is mostly garbage. Small waves, bad wind. You’ll see some knee-high to waist-high stuff, 3ft to 4ft, but the conditions are just messy. The wave energy is weak to moderate at best, like 144 to 164 (weak), so don’t bother. It’s a real slow start.

Then on Tuesday afternoon, we finally get a break. The wind goes glassy, the swell is 4ft from the northwest with an 8-second period, and the energy bumps up to 254 (moderate). It’s surfable but nothing special. That glassy wind is a big plus though – it’ll be clean, just small.

Wednesday afternoon is interesting but weird. A long-period groundswell from the southwest rolls in, only 3ft but with a period of 19 seconds – that’s really long. The energy hits 570 (moderate). This kind of period can make for nice, lined-up waves at a reef like Point Arena, but the size is tiny, so it’s marginal.

Thursday afternoon (September 10th) has a little more. Another long-period southwest swell, 3ft at 17 seconds, with clean cross-offshore wind. The energy jumps to 771 (moderate). That’s the first little glimmer of something worth paddling for, but still just okay.

Now, the real standout is Saturday, September 12th. The afternoon session is the pick of the whole forecast. The swell builds to 12ft from the northwest with a 9-second period. The energy is 1685 (strong). Winds are cross-offshore from the NNW at 25 mph – strong, but clean. But I gotta be real with you: that size is only for the experienced crew. Over 8ft, it’s expert-only. The wave comment says wind and tide are favorable. For the big wave hunters, this is it. If you’re not that level, watch from the cliff.

Saturday morning (September 12th) is also big – 10ft from the NW – but with even stronger winds, and it’s marked as marginal. Still, the afternoon is the highlight.

The rest of the second week is a mixed bag. Swell stays in the 5ft to 8ft range, mostly from the northwest, with periods of 6 to 9 seconds. The winds are often cross-off or cross, and the energy ranges from 241 (weak) up to 1266 (strong). But most of it is described as marginal or poor. Nothing else really stands out. The long-period southwest swells come back around September 19th and 21st, but they’re small (2ft to 3ft) and the wind is fresh and cross, so it’s not cleaning up.

Bottom line: if you’re an expert, circle Saturday the 12th. For everyone else, that glassy Tuesday afternoon or the clean Thursday afternoon might give you a little something, but don’t expect fireworks. The gaps are long – almost a week of nothing at the start – so pick your moment.

Rusty.

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