Otter Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s in store for Otter Rock.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next week is a bit of a grind. We’ve got a solid stretch of poor conditions ahead, with cross-onshore winds and a lot of chop messing things up through mid-week. There is a real dry spell from now until at least Thursday morning, so don’t get too excited just yet.

The first real bright spot shows up on Thursday, July 16th, in the morning. The wind goes totally glassy, and the swell comes in at a clean 5 ft from the NW with a short period of 8 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (529), but that glassy wind is a major win – it’ll keep the surface smooth. It’s a beginner-friendly spot with a fairly consistent record, so that Thursday morning window is the only true standout in the first week. Keep in mind, this break can get a bit crowded, so get in early.

After that morning, the winds turn back on and it gets messy again through the rest of July.

Moving into the second week, the pattern doesn't improve much. From around July 20th onward, we see a lot of cross-shore winds and lumps. Swell heights climb up to 7 ft and even 8 ft on the 19th and 20th, but with those fresh cross-breezes and a short period, it’s going to be lumpy and hard to enjoy. The energy readings are high – in the 800 to 1000 range – but it’s not clean paddle-surfing weather. Honestly, with that much wind and chop, a few of those afternoons look more like they’d suit a kite surfer than a surfer with a longboard.

The long-range outlook for July 24th through 26th is a bit of a weird one. Swell directions shift to the WSW with some very long periods – up to 24 seconds. That’s proper groundswell, but the heights drop off to 2 ft to 3 ft, so there’s not much push. The energy is still moderate (over 700 in some slots), but for a point break like this, those long-period swells might wrap in nicely, even if the size is small. Just manage your expectations – it’s a week and a half away, so the picture could shift.

The water temp is sitting at 50°F with a massive anomaly of -9°F, meaning it’s way colder than normal for this time of year. You’ll want a thick suit, hood, boots, the lot. Don’t even think about skimping.

Overall, the one to circle on the calendar is Thursday morning, July 16th – glassy, clean, and just enough swell. Outside of that, you’re mostly looking at windy, lumpy, or too-small conditions. It’s a tough stretch, but that one window is worth your time.

Rusty.

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