Otter Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s have a look at what Otter Rock has in store for us over the next couple of weeks.

Straight up, the first week and a half is a tough slog. There’s a long stretch of small, weak, onshore slop to wade through. From Tuesday 25 August right through to the end of the month, we’re looking at surf that’s barely a whisper – mostly 1ft to 3ft, with a short period swell that’s got no grunt. The wind is mostly cross-onshore, and the water temp is a staggering 49°F, which is 11°F colder than usual for this time of year. That’s freakishly cold, so you’ll need a thick suit and a lot of patience. The combined energy barely cracks 300 for most of that time, which is weak. Conditions are consistently poor or marginal, and the scores reflect that. Honestly, it’s not worth paddling out. There’s a window of glassy conditions on Tuesday morning 8 September, with a 5ft NW swell and a 8-second period. That’s the best we get – clean, small, and with that slight air breeze making it look pretty. But the energy is still moderate (327) and the swell is short period, so it’s more of a longboard or fish session than anything with power. The real standout, if you’re an experienced surfer, is Thursday 3 September afternoon. That’s a solid 7ft swell from the WNW with a 11-second period, and the combined energy rockets up to 1469 – that’s strong. The wind is cross-shore and moderate, so it’ll be a bit choppy, but that’s proper power for Otter Rock. That’s one for the experts only, though. For the rest of the first week of September, we’ve got a mix of 4ft to 7ft from the NW, but the wind is often cross-onshore or onshore, keeping things messy. The Saturday 5 September morning has a rain shower and a 5ft NW swell, with light wind, but it’s marginal. The best bet for clean, rideable waves is that Tuesday 8 September morning – glassy, 5ft, and the only time in the whole run where the wind is actually offshore. It’s a beginner-friendly size, too. After that, Wednesday 9 September brings a pulse of 6ft NW swell, but the wind turns cross-onshore again, so it’s back to the struggle. To sum it up: the first week is a write-off. The second week has a few pulses of size, but the wind is mostly against you. The standout is Thursday 3 September afternoon for the big stuff (expert only), and Tuesday 8 September morning for a clean, small session. Crowds are likely at Otter Rock, so plan accordingly. Rusty.

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