Lincoln City Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get real about Lincoln City. It’s a beach and reef setup, and honestly, it’s looking pretty bleak for the next couple of weeks. The water is sitting at 52°F, which is a massive 7°F colder than usual for this time of year. That’s not just a chilly morning; that’s a whole different season. You’re gonna need the thickest suit you own, and even then, it’s gonna be a battle.

The surf itself is just... flat. We’re looking at a solid run of days with nothing on offer. From now through the 18th, it’s all small, weak, and messy. Swell heights are hovering around 2ft to 2ft from the southwest with periods around 14 seconds, but the energy is weak, reading between 247 and 385. The wind is mostly cross-onshore or cross, which is just chopping up an already tiny wave. It’s the kind of surf that has you driving home wondering why you bothered. Honestly, for a stretch like this, it might be more interesting to look at kite surfing, because paddle surfing is a write-off.

There’s a slight pulse starting on the 19th. Wednesday morning sees the swell bump to 3ft from the WNW with a 12-second period, and the energy starts building to 442. Still, it’s not enough to get excited about. The wind is light and cross-onshore, so it’s not going to be clean. The 20th is a bit better, with the swell pushing 4ft to 5ft from the WNW, and energy climbing to 579. This is the first time I’d even consider paddling out. The wind is light, which is a plus, but the period has dropped to 11 seconds. It’s still marginal, and the tide is a question mark.

Then it fades again. The 21st and 22nd drop back down to 3ft, with the energy bleeding off to 215-357. The wind stays messy. Not good.

The 23rd offers a glimpse of something, with 4ft surf from the NW, but the period is a short, crumbly 7 seconds. That’s just windswell junk, and the cross-shore breeze will make it a chore.

We get a brief break with tiny 2ft swell from the SW on the 24th, but with a long 18-second period. That energy is there, but the size is not.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The 26th and 27th see a real push. Swell heights jump to 6ft to 6ft from the NNW and NW, with periods in the 7-8 second range. The energy is moderate to strong, hitting 424-485. This is still short-period stuff, so it’ll be lumpy and probably closing out at the beach breaks. The wind is cross-shore, which isn't helping.

The 30th is the standout. The swell is 6ft from the NW with an 8-second period, but the energy is the strongest we’ve seen, hitting 653. It’s still short-period, so it’s not the cleanest, but there’s finally some push. The wind is cross, so expect some chop on the surface.

Look, realistically, this is a rough outlook. The whole 16-day window is poor. The only days that even approach being rideable are the 20th, and maybe the 30th. The 20th has cleaner 11-second swell from the WNW at 5ft. The 30th has the most energy. But both are compromised by cross winds and short periods.

There’s nothing here for beginners. The 6ft+ days are too big and messy for that. And even for the experts, it’s not going to be pretty. It’s a classic case of an exposed beach and reef setup that’s just getting battered by cross-shore winds.

We’ve got a blank run on our hands. For this area, that’s not uncommon. Don’t get too down, forecasts can flip, but as it stands, you might want to find something else to do for a couple of weeks.

Rusty.

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