Point Arena Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, it’s Rusty here. Let’s talk about Point Arena.

Right now, we’re in a bit of a slump. For the first week and a half, there’s not much to get excited about. The surf is small, the wind is mostly a mess from the NW, and the water is sitting at 53°F – that’s 4°F colder than usual for this time of year, so you’ll want a thick suit. The first real window doesn’t open up until the end of the month, and even then, it’s touch and go. There’s a gap of almost zero quality surf from now until around Friday the 24th.

Let’s look at the details. Starting Monday the 20th, we’ve got a weak NW swell around 4 ft, but the wind is onshore from the SSW, and the energy is weak (233). The rest of that week just drags on with cross-shore NW winds, tiny waves, and poor conditions. By Friday the 24th afternoon, a long-period SW groundswell kicks in at 3 ft with a 24-second period – that’s a *very* long period for such a small wave. The wind turns cross-offshore from the NNW, and the water goes clean. The energy jumps up to 1180, but it’s only a marginal call. That long period will make it tricky at the beach, but on a reef like Point Arena, it could offer some lines.

Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th see the swell bump up to 7 ft to 8 ft from the NW, period around 8 seconds. The wind stays cross-offshore, so the faces will be clean, but the energy is moderate (573-689). That size is getting into expert territory, especially with the fresh breeze. Still, the overall quality is poor according to the charts – it’s just too wind-affected.

The real standout, if you can wait, lands on Monday the 3rd of August. That’s the one to mark on your calendar. We’ve got a solid 12 ft NW swell rolling in, with a 9-second period and a massive energy reading of 1895. The wind goes glassy from the WSW in the afternoon. This is the best on offer by a long shot. The swell is big – too big for beginners – and the reef should handle that long-period groundswell beautifully. It’s predicted to be a bit too big for the break, but if the tide lines up, this could be a full-on session. Expect crowds here, because spots like this don’t stay empty when it’s pumping.

Tuesday the 4th of August drops back to 8 ft to 8 ft, but the afternoon goes glassy again with a WSW wind, giving you clean, peeling waves. The energy is still strong (1033), so it’s a solid follow-up day.

So, bottom line: the first week and a half is a write-off. The 24th of July offers a tiny, long-period window, but it’s not a sure thing. The real gold is on Monday the 3rd of August, with a big, clean, glassy swell at Point Arena. Get ready for that one.

Rusty.

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