Otter Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright mate, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s going on for Otter Rock.

First thing’s first – the next week and a bit is a real bummer. We’re looking at a long stretch of poor to marginal conditions from Tuesday the 25th of August through the end of the month. The water is a freezing 49°, which is a massive 11° colder than usual for this time of year, so you’ll want a thick wetsuit and booties. The swell is tiny, mostly 2ft to 3ft from the SW, and the wind is almost always cross-onshore, just chopping everything to pieces. It’s a total write-off.

That blank run stretches all the way until the end of August. There’s a flicker of hope on Tuesday the 1st of September. For the morning and afternoon, the wind drops to glassy, and the swell holds at 3ft from the WNW. The combined wave energy is moderate (326) and it’s the first time we see the word “good” in the forecast. That’s your best bet for the whole outlook – a small but clean window.

After that, it gets messy again with cross-onshore winds and choppy conditions through the 2nd and 3rd of September, even though the swell builds to 4ft to 5ft. The energy kicks up to moderate and strong (560 to 653) but the wind ruins it.

The next real standout is Saturday the 5th of September. The morning at Otter Rock sees a cross-offshore breeze from the NE, which cleans things right up. The swell is small at 2ft from the SW, but with a long 16-second period, it’s a proper groundswell. The wave energy is moderate (414) and the conditions are described as “clean.” This is a classic point break setup, and that long period will wrap nicely around the point, giving you some fun, lined-up waves. It’s a beginner-friendly spot, so that 2ft is perfect for learning.

Looking further out, the morning of Wednesday the 9th of September looks promising. The swell jumps to 5ft from the NW, with a 10-second period, and the wind goes glassy. The forecast calls for “very good surf conditions.” The energy is strong (648). That’s a solid, clean groundswell that’ll be pushing in. Be aware that 5ft is getting a bit bigger, but it’s still perfectly manageable for intermediates. The crowds at Otter Rock can be “often” an issue, but on a Wednesday morning, you might find a bit more room.

Overall, the best of the outlook is split between the glassy, small waves on the 1st of September and the clean, lined-up groundswell on the morning of the 5th of September. The morning of the 9th of September is the biggest, most powerful swell, but it’s further out so keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

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