Otter Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on offer at Otter Rock for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, this is a rough stretch. We’re looking at a solid ten days of pretty disappointing conditions before anything even gets close to being worth a look. The water is sitting at 54°, which is more than 5° colder than it should be for this time of year – that’s very unusual and will feel properly chilly.

The whole first week is a write-off. The wind is stuck in a cross-onshore pattern from the NNW, and that combo is just wrecking the surf. Through Friday the 3rd and right into the middle of the week, the waves are small and the energy is weak (combined swell energy hanging around 353 to 388, and never looking good). The waves are short-period windswell at 8 seconds, so there’s no power behind them.

By Sunday the 5th, the swell picks up to 6ft to 7ft from the NW, but the wind is howling at 19 mph cross-shore and the period drops to just 7 seconds. The wave energy bumps up (548 to 712), but it’s lumpy, choppy, and messy. That’s kite-surfing weather, not clean paddle surfing.

The pattern of onshore wind and small, choppy surf just keeps going. A few days offer a little more energy – like Monday the 6th afternoon, with a combined swell energy of 984 from a 6ft swell – but it’s still cross-onshore and not clean.

There’s a slight glimmer on the morning of Wednesday the 8th. The wind swings to a light WSW offshore at just 3 mph, and the swell is a long-period 2ft from the SW at 18 seconds. The energy is decent (618), but the wave height is tiny. It’s a marginal call, and even then, it’s only for the absolute beginner on a longboard. And the break can get crowded often, so don’t expect any solitude.

Moving into the second week, it’s more of the same. The energy stays low, most days are under 3ft, and the cross-onshore wind is relentless. There are no standout swells.

Finally, on Saturday the 18th of July, we get the biggest pulse of the whole forecast. The swell builds to 6ft in the morning and 7ft in the afternoon from the NW. That afternoon has a combined swell energy of 1018 – that's strong energy. But here’s the kicker: the wind is still moderate cross-onshore at 16 mph and the period is a short 8 seconds. The waves will be big and powerful, but they’ll be messy and choppy. That’s a day for experienced surfers only, and even then, you’ll be battling the wind.

Forget about any standouts here. There is no true gem in this window. The best-framed option is that Wednesday morning the 8th, but it’s a long shot.

Rusty.

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