Lincoln City Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for Lincoln City. We’ve got a run of small, clean conditions to start, then a bit of a pulse later on, but honestly, it’s a mixed bag for the next couple of weeks.

First up, we kick things off on Friday, September 4th. The afternoon brings a risk of thunderstorms, but the wind is glassy out of the ENE at 3 mph. There’s a 4ft WNW swell, with a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy is moderate, sitting at 555. The water is 56°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year. It’s going to be clean, but that swell is a bit short-period and straight from the west-northwest, so it’ll be fun but not a standout.

Saturday morning, September 5th, is a bit of a teaser. The swell drops to 2ft from the SW, but the period jumps to a very long 16 seconds. That’s serious groundswell energy, with a reading of 519. The wind is calm and glassy. This is the kind of day where a point or reef would be magic, but at a beach-and-reef setup like Lincoln City, that long period can make it break too straight. Still, if you get the right bank, it could be a sweet, clean morning.

After that, we go into a long stretch of tiny, weak surf. From Saturday afternoon right through to the morning of Wednesday, September 16th, the swell just dribbles along between 1ft and 3ft. The combined energy drops into the low hundreds and even the 200s. There’s a lot of cross-shore or cross-onshore wind, making things choppy and messy. A few mornings have glassy conditions, like Sunday the 6th and Monday the 7th, but with only 2ft of swell, it’s a real longboard-only kind of vibe. This gap of nearly a week and a half is pretty quiet for paddling.

Now, the best bet on offer comes later. Thursday morning, September 17th, we see a glimmer. The wind is glassy out of the W at 3 mph, with a 3ft WNW swell and a 10-second period. The energy is 332. It’s clean, small, and rideable. That’s a nice, calm morning session.

But the real standout, the one to circle on your calendar, is Friday, September 18th morning. The swell is up to 6ft from the NW, with a 10-second period, and the combined energy hits a strong 695. The wind is light cross-onshore from the SSW at 6 mph. It’s not perfect glass, but it’s the most size and power we’ve seen in the whole window. That’s a proper autumn swell for the intermediate crowd. For beginners, 6ft is getting a bit punchy, and for experts, it’s just right. The direction is a good match for the optimum W swell direction for this spot.

Saturday, September 19th, keeps that energy going with a 6ft to 6ft NW swell, but the wind is cross-shore and cross-onshore, so it’ll be a bit lumpy. Still, there’s grunt in the water.

So, the long and short of it: the first weekend has some clean, small windows, but the real size and power shows up around the 17th and 18th of September. That’s your best shot at a proper wave.

Rusty, signing off.

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