Otter Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ over the next couple weeks.

Honestly, it’s a bit of a flat spell to start. The whole stretch from now through mid-July is pretty lackluster. The wind is constantly cross or cross-onshore at Otter Rock (Oregon), mostly from the NW and NNW, making for choppy, bumpy conditions. The swell comes in, but it’s never really clean enough to get excited about. The best description is a whole lotta "poor surf conditions." There’s a gap of no real recommendations for over a week – from the start all the way to the 16th of July, the wave comment is mostly "poor" or "marginal." Not a single standout in that first week and a half.

Now, things do get a little more interesting around Thursday the 16th of July, but it’s still not a firecracker. The early morning of the 16th shows a 3 ft swell from the WNW with a 16-second period – that’s proper long-period groundswell energy, which should bring some shape. The wind is light from the NW at 6 mph, so it’s a light cross-onshore. It’s still a bit bumpy, but the combined swell energy is moderate at 737; the quality is still only "marginal" due to tide or conditions. And later that afternoon, the wind switches to WNW at 6 mph, going offshore. The swell holds at 3 ft, same long period. That afternoon session on Thursday the 16th is probably your best bet of the whole run – cleanish, with a light offshore and some long lines rolling in. But you gotta set your expectations: it’s not pumping, just a decent chance at a few clean ones.

Friday the 17th and Saturday the 18th stay in that same "marginal" zone. Swell hangs around 3 ft, still from the WNW, still with that lovely 15-16 second period, and light winds. The problem is the wave quality never tips over into "good." You’ll be scratching for waves, not scoring them.

The water is much colder than normal at 54°, a full 4° off the average. That’s a real shock to the system if you’re not ready for it. Bring the thick rubber.

So, the whole two weeks is a struggle. The only day that even whispers "maybe paddle out" is the evening of July 16th, with that rare offshore wind and long-period groundswell. Don’t plan your trip around it, but if you live nearby and see it glass off, you could snag a couple.

Stay safe, don’t get skunked too hard.

- Rusty

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