Otter Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the local line-up.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next week and a half is looking pretty grim for Otter Rock. We’ve got a point break here that’s begging for a clean W swell, but instead we’re copping a constant barrage of NW and NNW windswell with a cross-onshore breeze. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there.

For the first week, from the 7th of August all the way through the 18th, it’s a write-off. The swell is small, mostly around 1 ft to 4 ft, the period is short and weak (5 to 8 seconds), and that combined energy is mostly in the low to mid hundreds (158 to 440), which is just weak, mushy stuff. The wind is never offshore, it's cross or cross-onshore, keeping the surface chopped up and messy. Not a single session worth paddling out for.

We do have a bit of a gap there with no real options, but come the 19th of August, things start to look a little more interesting. The swell direction swings around to a more promising WNW, and the period lengthens to 12 seconds, bringing in some proper groundswell energy. The combined energy jumps right up to the 700s and 900s (700 to 901), which is a solid sign of a strong pulse. But here’s the kicker – the wind is still cross-onshore, so while the power is there, the surface will be lumpy. It’s a “marginal” call at best.

The only true standout, and it’s a long-range one, is the morning of the 20th of August. Otter Rock is facing a 5 ft swell from the WNW with a 12-second period. That’s proper groundswell, and with a combined energy of 901, it’s got some serious punch. The wind is a gentle 9 mph from the NNW, which is cross-onshore, but it’s light enough that the surface might clean up between sets. It’s a long way out, so don’t book the time off just yet, but it’s the one window that’s got a bit of life in it. After that, the 21st still has some size, but the wind picks up again and the period drops.

So, to sum it up: the first week and a half is a skip. The best bet, if you’re patient, is the morning of the 20th of August. Keep an eye on the wind, but that’s our only real glimmer of hope.

Rusty.

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