Point Arena Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s take a look at what’s going on with Point Arena (reef). Honestly, the next week or so is looking pretty grim. The wind is mostly cross or cross-off from the northwest, but it’s strong – 15 to 22 mph – and the swell is short period, mostly 7 to 8 seconds. The water’s sitting at 53°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year. The combined wave energy is in the moderate range (for example 476 on Monday the 6th, 545 on Wednesday the 8th), but the surf quality is poor, with lumpy chop and a nasty cross-shore texture. Not worth paddling out.

Thursday the 9th pushes up to 8 ft to 10 ft from the northwest, but that wind is still 19 to 22 mph cross-off, so it’s going to be messy and blown out. Friday the 10th is only marginal at best. Saturday the 11th drops back to 6 ft, still cross wind and poor. This pattern just keeps repeating. There’s a stretch from Monday the 6th through Saturday the 12th where there’s basically nothing rideable.

Things start to get weird around Wednesday the 15th. You get a tiny 2 ft southwest swell with a very long 18 second period, but the wind is 19 mph cross-off from the north-northwest – too much wind for that little energy. Thursday the 16th has a bit more size, 5 ft from the northwest at 9 seconds, but still marginal at best with strong cross-off wind.

Now, if you’re patient, there’s a proper pulse lining up for the end of the second week. Friday the 17th sees a 8 ft to 10 ft northwest swell rolling in, with combined energy jumping into the strong range (1305 on Friday morning, 1545 on Friday afternoon). The wind backs off to 9 mph northwest in the afternoon, going cross, so conditions clean up. That Friday afternoon could be the best window – solid size, cleaner conditions, and the reef breaking with a bit more shape. Saturday the 18th keeps the swell going at 8 ft to 7 ft from the northwest, but the wind shifts light from the south-southwest, becoming cross-on or onshore, which will mess up the face. That’s kite-surfing territory, not paddle surfing.

Sunday the 19th is still marginal with lighter onshore wind and 5 ft northwest swell. Then Monday the 20th drops away into weak long-period leftovers.

Overall? The only true standout is Friday the 17th afternoon. That’s the one to circle. A 10 ft northwest groundswell (8 seconds) with light northwest wind, clean conditions, and strong energy (1545). That’s the one with real potential for experienced surfers – anything over 8 ft at a reef is for experts. The morning of the 17th is also okay but with stronger cross wind. The rest of the run is not worth getting wet for.

Rusty.

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