Otter Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Otter Rock over the next couple of weeks.

To be honest, it’s a pretty bleak run. The forecast is filled with poor surf conditions and only a few days where it might be worth a paddle, but even then it’s marginal. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing to write home about.

We kick off on Tuesday the 21st of July with a small 2ft SW groundswell at a very long 16 seconds, but it’s cross-on and choppy. The combined energy is weak (415). It’s a write-off. Wednesday the 22nd is similar, a little 2ft to 3ft, but the wind is still cross-on, making it choppy and only just worth a look. The combined energy is still low (353 to 365).

Thursday the 23rd jumps up to 5ft from the NW with a short 9 second period, but the wind is all over the place – cross and cross-on – so it’s messy and poor. The wave energy is only moderate (456 to 461). Friday the 24th has a weird mix: a 4ft NW swell in the morning, but the wind is onshore, then in the afternoon the swell drops to 2ft but the period jumps to a very long 24 seconds from the SW. The combined energy (581 to 594) is moderate. It’s marginal at best, but that long period groundswell might offer a few clean lines at this point if the wind stays light. It’s not a standout.

Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th see a long-period SW groundswell (20-22 seconds) building, with the combined energy climbing to a strong 939 by Saturday afternoon. The swell is only 2ft to 3ft, but that long period groundswell will have some push. The problem is the wind: it’s cross-on from the SSW and SW, making it choppy. It’s frustrating – the energy is there, but the wind is ruining it. The best bet might be the Sunday morning, with a light onshore and a 3ft SW groundswell (20 seconds), but it’s still marginal.

From Monday the 27th all the way through to the end of the forecast on the 5th of August, it’s just poor. The wind is a constant cross-on from the NW and NNW, with speeds from 9 to 15 mph. The swell is a mix of short-period NW windswell (5-8 seconds) and some longer-period SW swell, but it’s all messy. The combined energy drops back to weak to moderate (169 to 620). The surf is just choppy and uninviting. There’s a brief period around the 4th of August where the swell gets up to 7ft, but it’s a short-period NW windswell (7 seconds) with cross-on winds, making it a washing machine. That’s not for the faint-hearted, and definitely not for beginners.

The one small window of hope is the Sunday the 26th and Monday the 27th of July mornings, where the swell is a clean 3ft from the SW with a long period and the wind is light. It’s the best on offer, but it’s still only a marginal option. Honestly, if you’re set on a paddle, keep an eye on those mornings, but otherwise, it’s a week and a half of junk.

Rusty.

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