Point Arena Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a long look at the 16-day forecast for Point Arena. It’s a reef setup that’s very consistent and fairly exposed to the NW swell, but don’t get your hopes up too quickly—this is a tough run.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a tough start. From Tuesday, July 21st through to Saturday, July 26th, the surf quality is poor, with weak, short-period NW swell coming in at 2 ft to 6 ft and periods mostly around 8 seconds. The combined wave energy is weak to moderate (values between 104 and 271), so it’s not doing much. The wind is mostly cross-off or light, but the waves just aren’t there. This is a long stretch of flat to marginal conditions, about five days of pretty much nothing worth paddling out for.

Things start to shift on Sunday, July 26th afternoon, when the swell bumps up to 7 ft from the NW, but the period drops to 7 seconds. The energy jumps to 493 (moderate), but it’s still not clean enough to be good. The wind is fresh and cross-off, so it’s clean, but the waves are short and weak. Monday, July 27th sees the swell pushing 8 ft from the NW with a 7-second period and energy at 653, but the quality is still listed as poor. The wind is fresh cross-off, but this is a lot of lumpy, short-period swell for a reef. It’s expert-only territory if you’re brave, but it’s not what I’d call good surf.

The real standout—and I mean the only one worth getting excited about—hits on Sunday, August 2nd. The afternoon brings a solid 13 ft swell from the NW with a 9-second period, and the combined energy is a massive 2553 (very strong). The wind is fresh and cross-off, so it’ll be clean. But here’s the catch: the call says it’s predicted to be too big for this break. At 13 ft, this is strictly for experts, and even then, the reef might be shutting down. It’s a monster swell, but it’s a borderline one. The morning of that day is also big at 10 ft, with energy at 1460, but it’s only rated as marginal. If you’re a seasoned charger, Sunday, August 2nd afternoon is your window, but it’s not for the faint of heart.

The water at Point Arena is about 53°F, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so don’t forget a decent hood or booties if you’re heading out.

After that, Monday, August 3rd keeps the 10 ft swell going, but the quality is still marginal, and the energy is still strong. Then it starts to fade into Tuesday, August 4th, with 6 ft and weaker energy. By Wednesday, August 5th, it’s back to poor surf with 4 ft and a 6-second period that’s just a mess.

Overall, it’s a tough 16 days. The only real standout is the big swell on Sunday, August 2nd, but it’s a beast that might be too much for the break. For the rest of the run, it’s a lot of waiting. If you’re a beginner, stay away when it’s over 8 ft. For the rest of us, keep an eye on that Sunday afternoon—it’s the only shot at something special, but it’s a gamble.

Rusty.

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