Point Arena Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's get into it.

We're starting off with a bit of a wait. The first real swell to talk about doesn't show until Monday the 14th, so we've got a quiet Sunday afternoon with a bit of cross-off wind but only poor surf, so you won't miss anything.

The first proper window opens up Monday morning, September 14th, at Point Arena (Mendocino County). It's bringing in a moderate 8-foot swell out of the northwest. The combined energy is a solid 956, so there's some decent push behind it. The wind is cross-shore, though, so expect a bit of a chop on the face. It’s not perfect, but it's the first real option. The afternoon gets bigger, hitting 10 feet with a cross-off breeze, cleaning things up nicely, but that size is getting into expert territory.

Tuesday the 15th sees some respite. The swell drops slightly to 8 feet, and the morning wind is a gentle cross-shore, making for a more manageable session. The afternoon wind picks back up, cleaning the waves but with a fresh breeze.

We then hit a bit of a lull. From Wednesday the 16th through Saturday the 20th, conditions are marginal at best, with poor surf and funky winds. No real standouts there. The swell direction shifts south-west, but the period gets long (18-19 seconds), which can make the waves a bit straight at this point break, but for a reef setup like Point Arena, the long period groundswell will wrap in with proper shape. The water temp sits around 57°, which is about normal for this time of year.

Now, let's talk about the real standout. Tuesday, September 22nd is the money day. Don't miss it. The morning session looks absolutely world-class. We’ve got a solid 10-foot groundswell from the northwest, with a 9-second period and a massive combined energy reading of 2262—that’s some serious power. The wind is forecasted to be glassy. Zero wind. The surface will be like a lake. This is excellent surf for experienced guys. That’s the best on offer for the entire run. The afternoon holds at 8 feet with a 10-second period, still good energy (2322), but a light cross-onshore will put a few ripples on it.

After that, the week gets messy. Wednesday the 23rd and Thursday the 24th get blown out by a strong south-easterly, ruining the swell. Friday the 25th offers a small window with an 8-foot, 10-second northwest swell and light offshore winds in the morning, giving you a chance at some clean waves. The energy is still moderate at 1044. But by the weekend, from Friday afternoon through Monday the 28th, it’s either too windy, too messy, or too big for comfort. Monday afternoon actually has an 12-foot northwest swell with 2570 energy, but with a 28 mph cross-off wind, it's just a washing machine out there.

In short: wait for the 22nd. That Tuesday glass-off will be the one to remember. Everything else is a bit of a gamble or just for the dedicated.

- Rusty

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