Lincoln City Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Rusty here, lookin’ at the next couple weeks for Lincoln City. It’s gonna be a bit of a slow burn to start, but there’s some real magic hiding out there if you’re patient.

Right off the bat, Sunday the 13th is pretty flat and messy. We’re talking a weak 2.3ft of SW swell, but it’s onshore chop, so honestly, not worth suiting up for much. The water’s sitting at 55.4°, which is a bit colder than usual for this time of year—about 3.2° off the norm. You’ll feel that extra chill on the paddle out.

Monday the 14th brings a little more life. The morning session cleans right up with glassy conditions and a 3.9ft W-NW swell at 8 seconds. That’s a short-period swell, so it’ll be a bit crumbly and quick, but it’s rideable. The afternoon gets choppy again with a cross-on breeze, so get your waves early.

Tuesday the 15th is pretty average. A 3.3ft NW swell with light cross-shore winds. It’s rideable but nothing to call home about. The morning has a bit of clean potential, but the tide might be working against you.

Wednesday the 16th is where things start to pick up a touch. The morning sees a clean 4.3ft NW swell with a nice cross-offshore breeze. That’s a decent window. But the afternoon jumps to 5.6ft with a strong cross-shore wind, making it lumpy and tough. Not great.

Thursday the 17th holds around 5.2ft of NW swell with light winds. The morning has a slight cross-on ripple, but it’s not too bad. Still, the energy is moderate (500 combined energy in the morning, 502 in the afternoon) and the period is only 8 seconds, so don’t expect any real power behind it. Marginal at best.

Friday the 18th drops back to 4.3ft and the winds stay light but onshore-ish. It’s a bit of a grovel. Not much push, not much shape. You’ll be working for every wave.

Now here’s where it gets interesting. Saturday the 19th and into Sunday the 20th, the swell numbers look small—1.3ft to 2.0ft—but the period jumps way up to 17 to 19 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell, but with that little height, it’s gonna be pretty weak. The energy numbers are actually moderate to strong on the 20th (471 and 435), but with such small waves, it’s mostly just a lot of push and not much to ride. Skip it unless you’re a longboarder chasing tiny, clean lines. The winds are cross-shore and getting stronger by Monday the 21st, with a 25 km/h cross wind in the afternoon. That’s chop city.

Then we hit the real standout. Tuesday the 22nd. The swell jumps up to 6.6ft in the morning, holding 6.2ft in the afternoon, and the period stretches to 12 seconds. Combined energy is a beast—1386 in the morning, 1237 in the afternoon. That’s strong, powerful surf. But it’s mid-period, and the wind is cross-shore at 15 to 20 km/h, so it’s gonna be a bit lumpy. Still, if you’re an experienced surfer, this is the biggest push of the window. Over 4.9ft, so it’s starting to get serious for beginners—maybe sit this one out.

Wednesday the 23rd is the one to circle. The morning has a 4.6ft WNW swell, 10 second period, and a clean cross-offshore breeze. The energy is solid at 659. Conditions are clean, the waves have some shape, and it’s the best combination of size and quality in the whole forecast. This is your window. Afternoon drops a bit and gets cross-shore, so get out early.

Thursday the 24th is another size jump, but it’s messy. 7.2ft to 7.5ft of WNW swell at 10 seconds, but the wind is cross and onshore-ish. Energy is huge—1114 in the morning, 1225 in the afternoon. But with that chop, it’s going to be a washing machine. This is expert territory. 7.5ft is over 8.2ft? No, it’s under, but it’s still big and unruly. Beginners, don’t even think about it.

Friday the 25th backs off to 4.3ft with light cross-shore winds. It’s weaker, the period drops to 9 seconds

Read more