Otter Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. Honestly, looking at the next 16 days for Otter Rock, this is a tough stretch. The wind is a constant problem, and the swell is never really clean enough to get excited about. There are no standout days, so we’re just playing the waiting game.

The first session worth mentioning is Tuesday morning, July 28th. We’ve got a 2ft swell from the southwest, rolling in with a long 16-second period. The water is a very unusual 48°F, which is a whopping 10° colder than normal for this time of year – that’s a serious wetsuit stack. The combined energy is moderate (554), but the wind is already cross-onshore at 6 mph, putting a small ripple on the face. It’s marginal at best, and the tide could be a factor.

Wednesday the 29th is more of the same, with a 3ft southwest swell and a 17-second period that pushes the energy up a touch (736). But again, the cross-onshore breeze at 9 mph keeps it choppy and messy.

We see a slight bump in size on Sunday, August 2nd, with a 5ft swell from the west-northwest, but the period drops to 9 seconds, and the wind is already cross and cross-onshore. By Monday afternoon, August 3rd, the swell hits 6ft, but the period is a short 6 seconds, and the wind is a fresh 19 mph cross-shore. That’s lumpy, choppy, and honestly, more interesting for kite surfing than a paddle.

The energy picks up again on Wednesday, August 5th, with a 7ft northwest swell, but the period is still short at 8 seconds, and the wind is a moderate cross-onshore. It’s just not coming together. By Thursday, August 6th, the swell is 6ft with a fresh 19 mph cross-shore wind – same story, a lumpy mess.

The final week is a similar pattern. We see a bit of a long-period pulse on Tuesday, August 11th, with a 2ft southwest swell and a 20-second period, but the wind is cross-shore and the size is tiny. The next morning, Wednesday, August 12th, has a 2ft southwest swell with an 18-second period and moderate energy (549), but again, the wind is a cross-shore 16 mph. It’s a frustrating run.

So, to be honest, there’s nothing here I’d paddle out for. The best option is the very first morning, July 28th, but even that is a marginal call with the cross-wind and cold water. We’re looking at a long, dry spell until the forecasts change. Keep an eye on it, but don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

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