Lincoln City Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, this is Rusty. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Lincoln City over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you: it’s a pretty grim run for the most part. There’s a long stretch coming up with nothing really worth paddling out for, so don’t get your hopes up too early.

The first week is a bit of a write-off, honestly. From Tuesday the 4th right through to Sunday the 9th, the surf is either poor or marginal, with northwest swell bumping in at 3ft to 6ft, but the wind is mostly cross or cross-onshore, and the periods are short—around 6 to 8 seconds—so it’s weak and choppy. The combined energy is moderate (between 214 and 414), but it’s not doing you any favours with the messy conditions. The water temperature is sitting at 56°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year—about 3° below average, so you’ll want a thicker wetsuit if you’re tempted.

The real drag is that from Monday the 10th through to Sunday the 16th, it’s almost all poor surf, with a few mornings that are just barely marginal. The swell drops right off—1ft on the 10th and 11th, even though it’s a long-period groundswell from the southwest (15-16 seconds), but it’s so small it’s barely rideable. The wind stays cross or cross-onshore, and the combined energy is weak to moderate (164 to 334). Not a single standout in that whole stretch.

The best chance you’ve got, and it’s a slim one, comes on the last two days of the forecast. On Wednesday the 19th, there’s a bit of promise. The morning sees a 3ft swell from the west-southwest with a very long period of 13 seconds, and the wind is actually onshore but only light—5 km/h (3 mph). The combined energy jumps to 565 (strong). That long period means better shaped waves, and it’s a beach and reef setup, so it could link up nicely if the tide cooperates. In the afternoon, the swell picks up to 4ft from the west at 12 seconds, with a light cross-onshore breeze. The energy is even stronger at 637. It’s still marginal for quality, but it’s the closest thing to a clean window we get. The break is exposed to west swell, which matches the direction well.

Lincoln City is a fairly consistent spot, but this run is a dry spell. If you’re desperate, the 19th is your best bet, but manage expectations—it’s not going to be a classic. For beginners, the swell is under 5ft, so it’s okay, but the long period might make the sets a bit more powerful and the gaps between them longer. Crowds are sometimes an issue, so you might have some company.

There’s a lot of nothing in between, so unless the forecasts change, I’d probably wait for a better window.

Rusty.

Read more