Oswald State Park/Short Sands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it’s Rusty here, and I’ve got to be straight with you – the next 16 days are looking pretty grim for the Oregon coast, specifically around Oswald State Park/Short Sands. We’re in for a long lull, so let’s not sugarcoat it.

The first recommendation isn’t until Friday morning, July 17th, and even then, it’s a meager offering. We’ve got a solid 3 ft swell rolling in from the WNW with a juicy 17-second period, which is a nice long-period groundswell. The energy is moderate with a value of 515, but it’s all let down by a cross-onshore wind. The water is a chilly 55°F, which is a shocking 4°F colder than normal for this time of year – that’s a whole lot colder than usual. The break is fairly consistent, but the conditions are marginal at best, and the crowds are sometimes a factor. The afternoon cleans up a bit with a 3 ft swell and 16-second period, but the wind shifts onshore, making it still a tough call.

The rest of the weekend and into the following week is a washout. Saturday, July 18th, through to the end of July, we’re looking at a string of days with poor surf conditions. The wind is a constant problem – mostly cross or cross-onshore, and often moderate to fresh breezes, just chopping everything up. Heights bounce between 2 ft and 5 ft, but the periods are short, often in the 8 to 9-second range, which means weak, crumbly waves. The energy levels are moderate, but the wind just ruins it. There’s a brief moment on Monday, July 20th, with a 5 ft swell from the WNW, but again, the wind is cross-onshore, so it’s not worth getting excited about.

The only faint glimmer of hope comes at the very end of the forecast. On Saturday, July 25th, we see a 2 ft swell from the SW with a very long 23-second period, but it’s a light wind day with only 3 mph from the SSW. The energy is moderate (464). It’s a marginal call, but that long period could set up some clean lines if the tide plays ball. The afternoon improves slightly with a 2 ft SW swell, 21-second period, and a light cross-shore wind, pushing the energy up to 642. It’s nothing to write home about, but it’s the best we’ve seen in over a week.

After that, it’s back to the same old story – clear skies, but strong winds from the NW and NNW, cross-onshore, and choppy conditions through the end of July and into August 1st. The swell direction shifts back to WNW, but the period drops to 7-8 seconds, and the wind is still a mess. For a spot like Oswald, which is a beach-and-reef setup, this wind is just going to make it messy and blown out, probably more interesting for kite sailing than a good paddle out.

In short, we’ve got a solid week and a half of nearly nothing worth paddling for. The first week is a total write-off. The only standout is that Saturday, July 25th, with the long-period SW swell, but it’s a long way off and the forecast is far from certain. Hang tight, and hope the forecasts change. For now, keep the boards in the car and the wetsuit dry.

Rusty

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