Otter Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer.

Alright, let’s be straight with you. The next two weeks are lookin' pretty grim for Otter Rock. This is a swell-exposed point, and it *gets* swell, but the wind is just not cooperating. The whole forecast period is plagued by cross-onshore or cross-shore winds, keeping things choppy and messy. We're looking at a long stretch of poor surf conditions, with only a few mornings that scrape a "marginal" rating. The water temp is a brutal 48°F, which is a staggering 10°F colder than usual for this time of year - that's not just a little chilly, that's a full-on deep freeze, so you’ll want a thick hood and booties.

The first surf worth mentioning isn't even really a recommendation. On Tuesday afternoon, July 28th, there's a small 3ft SW groundswell (16s period) with a combined wave energy of 577 (moderate). The wind is a cross-on from the NNW at 9 mph, making it "fairly choppy" and the call is "marginal". It's a 1/5 rating spot, and it's only for beginners on a good day; this isn't a good day.

The next morning, Wednesday July 29th, is a clear zero. Things stay poor all the way through. Thursday morning July 30th has a tiny 3ft SW swell (16s) with 414 combined energy. The wind is a light 6 mph, but it's still cross-onshore, so only "marginal" again. Friday morning July 31st is the same story - 2ft SW (15s) with 343 energy, light cross-onshore.

The swell does pick up heading into the first week of August, but the wind gets worse. On Monday August 3rd, we get a 7ft swell from the NNW, but it's a short-period 6-second windswell with a fresh 19 mph cross-shore wind. That's 384 combined energy, but it's a lumpy, choppy mess. A score of zero. By Thursday August 6th, the swell hits 8ft from the NNW (8s), with a combined energy of 901 (strong). But it's still cross-onshore, with a moderate breeze. That's expert-only territory for size, but the wind is ruining it.

The same pattern holds through the second week. A bit of a lull in height around August 8th-11th, but the wind doesn't let up. There's a slight uptick on Wednesday August 12th with a 6ft NW swell (7s) and 593 energy, but it's still a cross-onshore mess. The wind is always from the NNW or NW, which is cross-onshore at this spot. The tides are questioned, the conditions are poor.

There's no standout day. The best bet is probably one of the light-wind mornings like Thursday July 30th or Friday July 31st if you're desperate for a small, weak, rippled knee-high wave. But honestly, with that water temp and the constant chop, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing right now. The whole 16-day window is a blank run for quality waves.

Rusty.

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