Lincoln City Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Hey folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s going on for the Lincoln City stretch over the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, the first week and a half is a bit of a grind. The surf is small and the wind is messy. It’s not a total washout, but you’ll be scratching for anything decent. The best window looks like it’s going to be that Monday afternoon the 20th, where we finally get a break with the conditions.

The Early Week Grind (July 15th – July 19th)

We start off Wednesday the 15th with a weak 3ft swell from the WNW, but that 15 km/h NNW wind is putting a nasty cross-onshore chop on it. Not worth the paddle. The combined energy is still weak, around 356. Thursday the 16th is a little better with a glassy moment, but the swell is tiny at 2ft. Friday the 17th sees a bump in energy (732) but the wind is still on it, making for a bumpy ride. Saturday the 18th actually pushes a bit of size – 5ft to 6ft from the NW – but the wind is a solid 20-25 km/h cross-shore. It’s going to be a choppy, sloppy mess, not really a surfer’s wave. Sunday the 19th is more of the same: 6ft of short-period swell (8-9 seconds) with onshore wind. The energy is there (814), but the quality isn’t.

The One That Got Away (July 20th)

Here’s the standout. Monday afternoon the 20th. The swell drops a touch to 6ft from the NW, but the magic happens with the wind. It goes glassy. Dead calm. That’s your window. The combined energy is still moderate (661) and the 9-second period will mean some lumpy sets, but with no wind, Lincoln City’s beach and reef setup will clean right up. This is the best session on offer, and it’s only for the afternoon. The morning is still a bit onshore, but by the afternoon, you’ll be smiling.

The Second Week Fade (July 21st – July 30th)

After Monday, it’s a slow fade. Tuesday the 21st has a long-period 16-second swell from the SW, but it’s only 3ft. That’s a tease. The energy is low (526) and the wind is cross-onshore. Wednesday the 22nd and Thursday the 23rd are all small and messy. The real interest doesn’t pick up again until the 27th of July. Monday morning the 27th sees a 6ft NW swell with moderate energy (873), but the wind is a consistent 20 km/h cross-shore. It’s rideable but not special. The 28th and 29th are similar – 6ft of NW swell, but the wind stays cross or cross-onshore, keeping it choppy. The energy is there, but the quality is missing. The 30th of July morning is a last gasp with 5ft NW swell, but again, onshore wind.

The Bottom Line

Honestly, for this 16-day window, it’s a one-hit wonder. If you can get out Monday afternoon the 20th for the glassy conditions, you’ll be in the right spot. The rest of the time, it’s small, lumpy, and onshore. A few days have moderate energy, but the wind ruins it. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

Stay patient, and keep your eye on that Monday afternoon.

Rusty.

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