Surf Forecasts:
Point Arena surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 17 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 17 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 17s period, WNW swell with 550 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 17 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s period with WNW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Point Arena this week:
The surf forecast for Point Arena over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 14s. Another secondary swell of 2.0m and 7s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Point Arena in the next 16 days are 1.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 11s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Fri 17th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Fri 17th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Fri 17th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Point Arena over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s cookin’ for Point Arena over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this is a tough stretch. The first week, from Friday the 17th right through to the end of the month, is pretty much a write-off. We’ve got a mix of onshore, cross-shore, and some clean-ish afternoons, but the swell is just not cooperating. There are a few days where the wave energy is moderate (like 1088), but the wind is usually cross or cross-onshore, and the water is a bit colder than normal for this time of year at 53°F. The swell is coming from the WNW, which isn’t the optimum NW direction we want for this reef setup. Honestly, the best you’ll get is a marginal, scrappy knee-high wave on a good afternoon, but it’s nothing to get excited about.
We’re lookin’ at a gap of about 10 days with no real standout surf. The long-range, from Wednesday the 29th through to Friday the 31st of July, is where things might get interesting, but it’s a bit of a gamble. The swell picks up to 8ft to 10ft from the NW, which is the right direction, but the period is short (8 seconds). That means it’s gonna be a bit fat and won’t hold up well. The combined energy jumps up strong (1141) on the 29th afternoon, but those 30 km/h (18 mph) NW winds are cross-off, makin’ it clean. Still, this is big, short-period swell – it’s gonna be a handful. Over 8ft, this is only for experienced surfers, and the short period means it’ll be a bit of a washing machine. It’s promising, but I wouldn’t book the time off work just yet.
The absolute best bet in this whole window, if you’re desperate, is the Thursday afternoon of the 30th of July. The swell is 8ft from the NW, clean with a cross-off breeze, and the energy is strong (1023). It’s still only for the experts, but it’s the cleanest, most powerful option we’ve got. Just don’t expect a classic.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun night, min 11°C on Fri morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Fri afternoon, calm by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 21°C on Tue morning, min 13°C on Mon morning). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, fresh winds from the SE by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 17 | WNW 17 | WNW 16 | WNW 16 | WNW 16 | NW 8 | NW 8 | SW 17 | SW 17 | NW 8 | SW 16 | SW 16 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 12 | NW 8 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 433 | 550 | 499 | 487 | 481 | 364 | 349 | 439 | 400 | 273 | 362 | 367 | 132 | 107 | 64 | 36 | 33 | 102 | 98 | 94 | 225 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:47PM1.62m | 2:00AM1.74m | 3:28PM1.67m | 2:59AM1.51m | 4:10PM1.70m | 4:07AM1.28m | 4:52PM1.72m | 5:32AM1.12m | 5:36PM1.73m | 7:13AM1.05m | 6:23PM1.73m | 8:53AM1.07m | 7:11PM1.74m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:06AM-0.26m | 8:14PM0.64m | 8:46AM-0.05m | 9:20PM0.58m | 9:26AM0.17m | 10:30PM0.52m | 10:05AM0.41m | 11:44PM0.43m | 10:47AM0.62m | 00:56AM0.32m | 11:34AM0.80m | 2:01AM0.21m | 12:32PM0.93m | 2:56AM0.11m | |||||||
 | |  | | |  | |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — |
 | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:36 | — | — | 8:36 | — | — | 8:35 | — | — | 8:34 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 12 |
Feels °C | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 12 | 12 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 17 | WNW 17 | WNW 16 | NW 7 | WNW 16 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | S 13 | S 13 | S 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | S 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 433 | 550 | 499 | 233 | 481 | 364 | 349 | 398 | 367 | 273 | 266 | 600 | 475 | 1036 | 272 | 287 | 273 | 253 | 261 | 229 | 161 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | SW 14 | SW 14 | WNW 16 | SW 18 | WNW 16 | WNW 15 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | S 14 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | SSW 14 | S 8 | NW 10 | NW 10 | SSE 14 |
| kJ | 181 | 74 | 130 | 487 | 383 | 348 | 270 | 439 | 400 | 258 | 487 | 171 | 132 | 107 | 64 | 31 | 243 | 78 | 98 | 94 | 198 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 19 | NW 12 | SW 17 | NW 11 | SW 16 | SW 16 | WNW 15 | WNW 14 | SSE 12 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | NW 12 | NW 8 | NW 10 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 26 |
| kJ | 103 | 122 | 51 | 362 | 90 | 127 | 302 | 246 | 183 | 107 | 362 | 367 | 318 | 66 | 29 | 36 | 33 | 102 | 22 | 25 | 447 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 7 | — | NW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 12 | S 10 | — | — | W 6 | NNW 3 | NW 9 |
| kJ | 371 | 377 | 371 | — | 253 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1520 | 598 | — | — | 30 | 3 | 225 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 165 | 265 | 0 | 120 | 125 | 0 | 165 | 125 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 91 | 264 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Mendocino County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Point Arena Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Point Arena provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Point Arena can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Point Arena surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Point Arena) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Point Arena may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Point Arena is 52 km (32 miles) from Ukiah. If you plan a vacation in Mendocino County, look for hotels and other accommodation in Ukiah. Ukiah has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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