Lincoln City Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, it's Rusty here. Let's talk about what's cooking for Lincoln City.

To be brutally honest, the next 16 days are looking like a bit of a struggle. We've got a long, drawn-out run of small, messy, and choppy conditions for the most part. The real standout is going to be way out there on the 8th of August, so we've got a lot of quiet water to paddle through before we get there.

The biggest issue is that the wind is coming from the wrong direction. We're primarily seeing a cross-onshore or cross-shore breeze from the NNE or NNW, which is just groveling the surface out. That, combined with very weak swell energy and some ridiculous long-period swell from the SSW that doesn't really match what Lincoln City wants best (which is from the W), leaves us with a lot of days where the score is next to zero.

The energy levels are low, with most readings sitting in the low hundreds (weak wave energy), making for a real lack of push. Things don't get going until the very end.

If you're desperate for a paddle, the best of a bad bunch comes right at the start. On Friday the 24th of July, we've got some small 4ft groundswell from the NW. It's only a 9-second period, so it's not that clean, but the wind is light and we’re looking at a cross-on or even an onshore breeze. The water is a very chilly 51°F, which is much colder than normal for this time of year—a massive 8°F anomaly—so you'll want a thick suit.

There's a bit of a tease on Wednesday the 29th of July and into the 30th. The morning sessions could be okay with light winds from the NW, but the swell is still tiny—around 2ft to 3ft—and the energy is still low. The afternoons just get blown out by a moderate breeze. This pattern of chop and small lump just drags on through the first week of August.

Now, here's the only real standout in the whole window. We have to wait until the 8th of August. On that Saturday morning, we finally get some proper size. The swell builds to a solid 6ft from the WNW, and the period jumps to a very long 12 seconds. That pushes the combined energy up to a strong 1014. The problem is the wind is still a moderate cross-shore from the NNW, so it won't be perfect. By the afternoon, it gets even bigger at 7ft from the NW with 11-second period, and the energy is pumping at 1271. That is proper swell, but with the wind holding from the NNW at 16 mph, it will be a lumpy, choppy beast. At that size, it's only for experienced surfers with big boards and patience. The good news is, with that long period, the waves will have some serious power and shape, even if the wind isn't completely helping.

For the bulk of this forecast, the small, weak, and choppy surf at a beach and reef setup like Lincoln City is honestly looking more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The long-range promise on the 8th of August is exciting, but it's far out and the wind is still a question mark. For now, set your alarms for that Saturday and hope the wind swings a little more offshore.

Stay patient,

Rusty

Read more