Point Arena Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about what we've got cooking at Point Arena.

First up, the water temp is sitting around 56°, which is about what you'd expect for this time of year – no nasty surprises, just your typical Northern California chill.

Honestly, the outlook starts out pretty grim. For the first few days, the wind is just a constant buzzkill, coming in from the NW and NNW at 15-18 mph. That cross-off and cross wind is making a mess of things. We've got some small swell, but it's not worth paddling out for. The wave energy is weak, barely hitting the low hundreds in the early going, and the period is too short to get excited about. You’re looking at a stretch of poor surf conditions right through the end of July. There's a little spike in energy (1,042) on Saturday afternoon the 25th, but that's a long-period SW groundswell that doesn't match the break's optimal NW direction, so don't get your hopes up.

Towards the end of July and into the start of August, the swell starts to push up. We're seeing 6 ft to 8 ft, but the period is still short and lumpy with that persistent NW wind. The wave energy climbs into moderate territory, but the quality isn't there for a good paddle. The cross-off wind keeps it from being completely blown out, but it's not clean, groomed surf.

Now, here's where things get interesting. On Sunday, August 2nd, the forecast shows a big jump. The afternoon session has a solid 11-12 ft NW swell, but the wind and tide are lining up. The problem is, it's just too much power for this break. The combined energy is over 2,000 – that's very strong. This is expert territory only, and even then, it might be a washing machine. For the average surfer, it's a pass.

The real standout, the one I'd mark on my calendar, is Friday, August 7th. The afternoon looks absolutely magic. We're looking at a clean 10 ft NW swell with glassy conditions. That's right – glassy. The wind is swinging WSW at only 3 mph, turning it dead calm. The period on this swell is 9 seconds, which is solid, and the energy is very high at 1,672. This is the best on offer. It's still a big wave, so it's for experienced surfers who know the Arena reef, but if you're one of them, that's your window.

To sum it up: the first week is a write-off for quality surf. The standout is that glassy afternoon on August 7th for the experienced crew. There's consistent swell in the second week, but the wind is fickle. Keep an eye on the forecasts, because this is a spot that can turn on.

Rusty.

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