Lincoln City Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are looking pretty flat and messy for Lincoln City. We’ve got a lot of small, short-period swell and a cross-shore wind that’s going to chop things up. It’s not a total loss, but you’re gonna have to pick your moments, and honestly, there aren’t many.

The first week is a write-off for any proper surfing. Through to the 14th, we’re looking at weak swell energy (277, 218, 252) with waves mostly under 4ft and periods of just 5-6 seconds. That’s windswell junk, and with a persistent NNW breeze, it’s going to be a bumpy, cross-chop mess. Don’t get too excited about the bigger period swells on the 10th and 11th (14-15 seconds) because the height is only 1ft – that’s not enough push to do anything with, and the energy is still weak (145-181).

There’s a slight tease mid-week on the 13th and 14th. The swell bumps up a bit to 5-5ft from the NW, and the energy gets more moderate (377-387). But the period is still short (7-8 seconds) and the wind stays cross to cross-on, so expect lumpy, uninviting conditions. Not worth getting wet for unless you’re desperate.

The next few days after that, from the 15th to the 17th, we drop right back down to tiny, ankle-biters again. It’s poor, plain and simple. You’re looking at 1ft to 2ft swells with long periods (14-18 seconds), but that combination just doesn't work at a beach and reef setup – it'll be breaking too straight and without any power. Energy stays weak to moderate (234-359).

Now, for the one true standout of this whole forecast: Tuesday the 18th and the morning of Wednesday the 19th. This is the only time we get some real swell. The energy jumps dramatically – we’re talking 1302 on Tuesday morning, 1712 by Tuesday afternoon, and 1003 Wednesday morning. That’s strong to very strong wave energy, a whole different ballgame. Swell heights push up to 5ft to 7ft from the WNW, with a period of 12-14 seconds. This is solid, powerful groundswell.

The catch? The wind is still cross-on, so it won't be completely glassy. But the sheer size and power of this swell will make up for a lot. On Tuesday afternoon, that 7ft WNW swell is the biggest of the period. This is the good stuff, but it’s also getting to the size where it’s a bit much for beginners. It's still only for the more experienced surfers in the lineup. Definitely the best on offer.

After that pulse fades, the week from the 20th onwards settles back into mediocrity. We’re looking at 3ft to 5ft of WNW swell with periods dropping back to 8-10 seconds. The energy is back to moderate (228-608), and the winds remain cross-shore. On the 21st and 22nd, the NNW wind picks up to 15 mph, making it choppy again. By the 23rd, we're down to the small stuff once more.

One thing to keep in mind – the water temp is 52°F, which is 7°F colder than normal for this time of year. That’s very unusual, so make sure you’ve got the thickest wetsuit you own and a hood. It’s going to be cold out there.

So, to sum it up: pass on the first week. Target the 18th and 19th for the real swell. The rest is a waiting game. Keep an eye on the forecasts, because things can change, but right now, it’s a lean spell with one solid blip on the radar.

Rusty.

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