Otter Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

Honestly, it’s a rough stretch ahead. We’re looking at a solid stretch of lackluster conditions, with only a few windows that might get the heart beating a little. The first real glimmer of *anything* doesn’t show up until the 19th of July, and even then, it’s a tough call.

The water is bloody cold, too. At Otter Rock, we’re sitting at 52°, which is a whopping 7° colder than usual for this time of year. That’s a weird, unusual chill for July.

Let’s start with the standout, if you can call it that. The best chance across the whole 16 days is looking like Thursday morning, the 23rd of July. We’ve got a 5ft swell rolling in from the NW with a period of 9 seconds, giving us moderate energy (527). But the real kicker? The wind is offshore, light at 6 mph. That’s rare in this forecast, and it should clean things up. The break is a point, so that long-period groundswell (anything over 11 seconds is notable) isn’t an issue here; it’s a good setup for Otter Rock. It’s a beginner-friendly spot, but with the swell size just over 5ft, it might be a touch much for total newbies. Crowds are likely here, so expect company.

Before that, we have a few mornings that are *almost* there. The 19th of July, Sunday morning, sees a 5ft NW swell, but the period is short at 7 seconds, and the wind is a messy cross-shore. The 20th of July, Monday, is similar with a 6ft NW swell, but again, cross-onshore winds are making it choppy. The 22nd of July, Wednesday morning, has a 4ft NW swell and a light cross-onshore breeze, but it’s still just marginal.

Further out, the 27th of July, Monday morning, shows a 3ft SW swell with a very long period of 18 seconds and light offshore wind. The energy is moderate (815). That’s a promising signal for a point break, but it’s over a week away, so take it with a grain of salt. The long period could make it a bit tricky, but Otter Rock is a point, so it’s in its sweet spot.

After that, the end of July and into August is a write-off. Swell drops to 2ft to 3ft, the wind is mostly cross or cross-on, and the energy is weak. The 2nd of August, Sunday, shows a 5ft NNW swell, but it’s short period junk at 6 seconds and the wind is a fresh 19 mph cross-shore. That’s not a surf forecast; that’s a kite-surfing setup. The whole stretch from the 29th of July through to the 2nd of August is pretty hopeless for a paddle.

So, to sum it up: the water is freakishly cold, the surf is poor for days on end, and the only real highlight is a brief offshore window on the morning of the 23rd of July. If you’re desperate, that’s your best bet. Otherwise, keep the board in the van and wait for a change.

Rusty.

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