Surf Forecasts:
Lincoln City surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 12s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 12s period, WNW swell with 565 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 12s period with WNW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Lincoln City this week:
The surf forecast for Lincoln City over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Lincoln City in the next 16 days are 1.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lincoln City over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for ya.
Alright, pull up a log and listen. The next 16 days for Lincoln City are lookin’ pretty bleak, I gotta be honest. We’ve got a few windows where the swell tries to push through, but the wind just keeps messin’ it up. Most of the time it’s either cross-shore or cross-onshore, and that chop is gonna have you feelin’ like you’re in a washing machine. The water’s 53° – that’s about 6° colder than usual for this time of year, so that’s a major shock to the system. You’ll be wantin’ a thick hood and gloves.
The first real chance to paddle out isn’t until Thursday, August 20th. The morning will see some chest-high waves at Lincoln City (beach and reef). The swell is 5 ft from the WNW with a period of 11 seconds, so it’s got some okay energy (677) behind it. The wind is onshore from the WNW at 6 mph, which is a bit messy, but it’s the best we’ve got for a while. The afternoon drops to 4 ft, and the wind swings to a cross-onshore from the NW. Still nothing special, but it’s surfable if you’re desperate.
Friday, August 21st, is more of the same – small and choppy. There’s a real window of nothing from Saturday, August 22nd, all the way through to the end of the month. We’re talkin’ a solid 10-day stretch of junk. Mostly sub-3 ft waves, strong cross-shore winds, and the energy is all in the 200-400 range – weak, weak, weak. The exception is the very end of the month. On Sunday, August 30th, the afternoon sees a bump of 6 ft from the NW, but it’s short period (8 seconds) and cross-onshore. That’s more of a choppy mess than a surf.
The one true standout, if you can wait, is on Thursday, September 3rd – but that’s two weeks away, so don’t book the trip just yet. The morning shows a solid 4 ft from the WNW with a very long 16-second period (742). That’s proper groundswell. The wind is a light cross-shore from the NNW at 9 mph, which is workable. The afternoon gets even bigger – 7 ft from the WNW, but the period drops to 14 seconds and the wind picks up to 16 mph cross-shore. That’s big enough for experts only (over 8 ft is a no-go), and the chop will be real. Still, that morning session on the 3rd is the best lookin’ wave in the whole forecast.
Overall, the outlook is poor. There’s a big gap of no good surf from the 22nd to the 30th. The only two worth mentionin’ are the morning of the 20th and the morning of September 3rd. The latter is the pick of the bunch, but it’s a long way off and the wind could change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon morning, min 11°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | NW 8 | SSW 14 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 7 | NNW 6 | SW 18 | WSW 18 | NW 6 | SW 17 | SW 17 | W 14 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
337 | 343 | 508 | 379 | 187 | 145 | 133 | 108 | 104 | 99 | 213 | 262 | 215 | 187 | 150 | 211 | 162 | 138 | 135 | 153 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 5:43PM1.83m | 7:53AM1.25m | 6:35PM1.77m | 9:33AM1.27m | 7:39PM1.74m | 10:44AM1.34m | 8:47PM1.75m | 11:28AM1.41m | 9:47PM1.80m | 12:01PM1.47m | 10:38PM1.87m | 12:29PM1.54m | 11:22PM1.92m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:33AM0.25m | 12:33PM0.81m | 2:45AM0.24m | 1:48PM0.89m | 3:53AM0.20m | 3:13PM0.90m | 4:49AM0.13m | 4:22PM0.86m | 5:35AM0.06m | 5:13PM0.78m | 6:13AM-0.00m | 5:56PM0.69m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | |
8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 14 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 14 |
Feels °C | 17 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 11 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 18 | WSW 18 | SW 16 | SW 17 | W 16 | W 14 |
337 | 343 | 508 | 379 | 149 | 145 | 111 | 108 | 104 | 99 | 213 | 262 | 64 | 111 | 150 | 211 | 133 | 138 | 122 | 153 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | NW 7 | SW 14 | NNW 8 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 19 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | WNW 10 | W 18 | W 16 | SW 17 | SW 16 |
87 | 94 | 169 | 39 | 187 | 141 | 102 | 96 | 94 | 65 | 67 | 40 | 59 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 55 | 81 | 135 | 127 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 14 | — | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 |
44 | 167 | — | 167 | 133 | 133 | 133 | 85 | 66 | 66 | 71 | 66 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 20 | 19 | 35 | 33 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | — | — | NW 7 | NNW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 |
39 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | 29 | — | — | 215 | 187 | 132 | 152 | 162 | 98 | 98 | 104 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 353 | 22 | 219 | 293 | 1 | 177 | 220 | 1 | 219 | 219 | 177 | 113 | 384 | 1 | 214 | 353 | 293 | 148 | 353 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Oregon | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Lincoln City Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Lincoln City provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Lincoln City can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Lincoln City surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Lincoln City) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Lincoln City may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Lincoln City is 72 km (45 miles) from the city of McMinnville. If you plan a vacation in North Oregon, look for hotels and other accommodation in McMinnville. McMinnville has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











