Otter Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

We’re looking at a pretty quiet start to the outlook at Otter Rock. Nothing really happening until the end of the month, and even then it’s marginal at best. The water’s sitting at 53°, which is a whopping 7° colder than normal for this time of year – you’ll want a thick steamer and booties for sure.

The first half of the period is a bit of a write-off. Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th have tiny swell, around 2ft to 2ft from the SW, with a 14-second period – that’s a long period for such a small wave, but cross-onshore winds and poor conditions make it a no-go. The combined energy is weak to moderate (234 to 296), and the wave comment says it all: “poor surf conditions.” Sunday the 30th isn’t much better, with 2ft to 3ft swell and moderate cross-onshore winds chopping it up. The energy is a bit higher (409 to 499), but still not worth paddling out for.

There’s a run of marginal surf from Monday the 31st through to Tuesday the 1st of September. Swell bumps up to 4ft on Tuesday, coming from the NW with a short 9-second period, but the winds are light and variable. The energy is still moderate (361 to 407), but the wave quality is only “marginal” – maybe a fun little wave for a beginner on a longboard, but nothing to get excited about.

Then we hit a gap. Wednesday the 2nd sees moderate rain and a fresh breeze, with 4ft to 7ft of NW swell. The energy jumps to 517 in the morning and a hefty 1183 in the afternoon, but the winds are cross-onshore and lumpy. That afternoon swell is getting bigger, but it’s messy. Not a standout.

Now, the real standout. Thursday the 3rd of September is the pick of the bunch. The morning session is looking excellent. We’ve got a 7ft swell from the NW with an 11-second period, combined energy of 1240 – that’s strong, powerful stuff. The wind is light and cross-offshore from the SSE, giving us clean conditions. This is classic Otter Rock (point) handling a good NW groundswell. The wave comment says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers” – this is a solid, punchy day for anyone who knows what they’re doing. The afternoon still holds at 6ft but the wind swings cross-on and the quality drops to marginal.

Friday the 4th of September is another beautiful morning. 5ft of WNW swell, 10-second period, with glassy conditions – a light offshore from the SW. This is a dream scenario for a cleaner, more user-friendly wave. The energy is moderate (726) and the “very good surf conditions” comment backs it up. This is probably the best bet for a wider range of surfers, as the size is more manageable. The energy drops off in the afternoon as the wind picks up.

After that, it’s back to a long stretch of small, marginal, and often choppy surf from the 5th through to the 11th of September. The swell hangs around 2ft to 4ft, mostly from the SW or NW, with short to moderate periods. The energy is moderate (293 to 660), and the winds are often cross-onshore or cross-shore. There’s a bit of a pulse on the 9th of September afternoon with 6ft NW swell and a 13-second period, energy of 1150, but the wind is onshore, so it’s not clean. It’s promising but uncertain this far out.

Finally, the long-range standout: Saturday the 12th of September. The morning is looking glassy again with a 7ft WNW swell, 12-second period, and a massive combined energy of 1439. “Excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers” – this is a big, powerful day. The afternoon gets messy with a strong cross-onshore wind, so get it early. This one is a week-and-a-half out, so keep an eye on it, but it’s got real potential.

So, bottom line: Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th of September are your best bets, with Thursday morning being the standout for the experienced crew and Friday morning for cleaner, more moderate waves. The 12th of September is a long-range possibility for another big session. Bring a thick wetsuit.

Rusty

Read more