Point Arena Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s check out what’s coming for Point Arena. Got to be honest – the next week or so is a bit of a grind.

The water’s running a little colder than usual for the season, sitting at 57°F. You might want a thicker suit.

We kick things off Sunday afternoon, August 23rd, with a 6-ft cross-off swell out of the NW. It’s got some juice (479), but the period’s a short 7 seconds, and it’s looking messy. Honestly, a write-off. Monday through the end of the month is pretty poor – we’re looking at tiny 2-ft waves with a long period swell from the SW. That long period means it’ll be straight and weak at the beach, mostly poor conditions. There’s a gap here with no real recommendations to speak of through the end of August.

Things start to build in size around the 28th, but the quality isn’t there. Friday afternoon, August 28th, we’ve got 6-ft waves with a period of just 6 seconds. The energy’s moderate (350), but the wind’s up to 19 mph, making for a bumpy, blown-out mess. This pattern keeps rolling into early September – chest to head-high waves, but short-period, wind-affected slop. The combined swell energy climbs from 444 to 764 by September 2nd, but the wind’s always cross or cross-off, keeping things a bit lumpy.

Now, the real standout – and it’s a big one – is something to get stoked on, but you gotta wait for it. Come Thursday afternoon, September 3rd, the swell starts to pump. We see 10-ft waves from the NW with a solid 8-second period and strong energy of 1350. It’s still a bit raw, but Friday the 4th of September is the true headline. We’ve got solid 11-ft to 15-ft NW groundswell with the period stretching to 10 seconds. The energy is massive: 3892 on Friday afternoon. Wind is a cross-off breeze, keeping the surface clean. The catch? This is expert territory only. That size of over 8-ft means it’s not for the weak of heart. The forecast notes say it’s too big for this reef setup, so Point Arena will be a heavy, powerful beast. If you’re a seasoned charger, this is your window.

After that, things ease a bit. Saturday the 5th holds 11-ft waves with the same long 10-second period. The energy is still huge (2238). By Sunday the 6th, we get a change. Sunday afternoon brings 10-ft swell from the NW, but here’s the magic: it goes glassy. The wind drops to almost nothing, the water will be like a mirror, and the energy is strong (1069). This is the pick for the cleaner, slightly more manageable session, but it’s still big. Monday the 7th gives us 8-ft clean cross-off, but the energy drops back and the period shortens.

To put it simple: right now is a quiet spell. The real juice comes in the first week of September. Friday the 4th is the standout for the hardcore crew, while Sunday the 6th afternoon offers a rare glassy window on a big swell. Keep an eye on the forecasts as we get closer, because this one could shift, but as it stands, get ready for some serious NW power.

Rusty.

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