Lincoln City Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the table for the next couple of weeks at Lincoln City. It’s a mixed bag, and I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – the start is a bit of a struggle, but we’ve got something to work towards.

First off, the water is a full 10°F colder than usual for this time of year, so you’re gonna want a thick suit and boots. We’re looking at a beach and reef setup, exposed to the west, and the swell is coming from the southwest. The early outlook is dominated by a long-period groundswell (16 seconds) which brings great shape potential, but the wind is a constant cross-onshore, messing with the surface. The wave energy is moderate (407), but the conditions are just marginal.

From Thursday the 30th through the weekend, the swell is small, around 2ft to 3ft. The wind is mostly a light to gentle breeze, but it’s from the wrong angle – cross or cross-onshore – keeping things choppy. Friday morning (31st) has a little 2ft swell from the southwest with a 15-second period, but the cross-onshore wind kills it. Saturday morning (1st) is cross-shore, which is a bit better, but the swell’s only 2ft. It’s a real grind. There’s a gap of a few days with no real standout quality.

Now, things start to get interesting around the 5th and 6th of August. The swell picks up to 8ft from the northwest, with a period of 10 seconds. The energy jumps significantly – we’re talking 1388 (strong) on Thursday morning. That’s proper surf. The wind is still cross-onshore, but it’s a light breeze. The wave state is described as “light cross-onshore with small wind ripples,” which is your best bet for a clean-ish wave. This is the standout window. The swell direction (NW) is a good match for the optimum, and the size is solid for intermediate and advanced surfers. Beginners might find the 8ft sets a bit hefty.

After that peak, the swell stays pumpin’ through the 9th and 10th, with consistent 7ft to 8ft swells, but the wind remains a cross-onshore issue. The later part of the second week, around the 13th, drops back to 3ft, and the period goes long again (14 seconds), but the energy is still moderate (627). The wind is finally cross-shore, which is cleaner, but the size is small. It’s a promising but less certain end to the run.

Honestly, the best bet is the morning of Thursday, August 6th. That’s the one where the swell is big, the energy is high, and the wind is light enough to keep it from being a total mess. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best we’ve got.

Rusty.

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