Otter Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at Otter Rock for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, it's a bit of a slow burn out there. The surf is pretty small and the winds are a bit messy for the most part. We're not looking at any big, clean swell events, but there are a few small windows where it might be worth a paddle.

The first real chance to get wet is Sunday, September 6th. The morning is a bit average with a tiny 2ft southwest swell. The wind is a light cross-shore, but the water is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, sitting at 56°, which is a couple of degrees off. The real highlight of the day—and honestly, the best bet in the whole run—is the Sunday afternoon. The wind goes glassy, dead calm, out of the southwest. That 2ft swell from the southwest with a long 15-second period will be super clean. The wave energy is moderate (408). It’s small, but for a log or a longboard, it'll be pretty fun with no bump on it.

Monday morning, September 7th, is similar: glassy, a 2ft southwest swell, still with a decent 14-second period. It’s clean and small again. The wind shifts on Monday afternoon, turning cross-shore and picking up, so it'll get a bit chopped.

From Tuesday, September 8th, through to the end of the first week, the winds get stronger and more cross-shore or cross-onshore. The swell is a mix of small, short-period windswell, so it's mostly not worth getting excited about. There's some moderate energy pushing through, like on Wednesday the 9th, the afternoon has a 3ft swell with an energy of 557, but it’s a cross-onshore wind, so it’ll be choppy and messy.

Into the second week, things get a little bigger, but not better. From around September 12th, the swell height starts to climb, hitting 4ft-5ft over the weekend, but the wind is still cross-on or cross-shore. The energy is moderate to strong (up to 646), but the quality drops. By Tuesday, September 15th, we’re looking at 5ft, but it’s short-period, wind-affected, and messy. That trend continues; on Wednesday, September 16th, the swell is 6ft (energy 571), but it’s all cross-onshore chop.

For the final days, the 18th to the 21st, the swell stays in the 5ft to 6ft range, but it’s always with a cross-shore or cross-onshore wind. The energy is strong (over 700 on the 18th), but the conditions are just too poor for a clean, fun wave. It’s more of a wind-swell mess than anything for a proper point break.

For the standout, you’ve got to grab that Sunday afternoon, September 6th. The glassy conditions and that long-period groundswell will make Otter Rock as clean as it gets in this window. It’s a beginner-friendly wave, and with that small size, it’s perfect for a learner. Just be ready for the crowds, as it’s often busy.

Otherwise, the rest of the time is a write-off unless you’re a die-hard chasing small, choppy waves. The swell gets bigger, but the wind ruins it.

Rusty.

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