Otter Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s get into it.

The next couple of weeks are looking pretty average for Otter Rock, with only a few windows that might get you wet. The early part is a write-off, but there are a couple of real standouts to keep an eye on, especially the morning sessions.

The water at Otter Rock is currently 52°F, which is about 8°F colder than normal for this time of year. That's very unusual, so you’re going to want a thick suit and booties.

We start on Saturday the 22nd with poor conditions. It’s a no-go. The surf stays messy and onshore through to the middle of the following week. Sunday the 23rd has a glimmer of hope with a glassy early morning and a 4ft WNW swell, but the period is short at 8 seconds, so it’ll be a bit weak and crumbly. It’s the best of a bad bunch early on. By Sunday afternoon, the wind swings cross-shore and ruins it.

Monday the 24th through to the following weekend is a write-off. Mostly cross-onshore winds, small, weak swells, and poor surf quality. Combined wave energy stays moderate, in the 200 to 300 range (218 to 343), but it doesn’t translate to rideable waves. There’s a long stretch here with nothing worth paddling for.

The first real standout is Sunday the 30th of August. A glassy morning with a 2ft SW swell (period 16 seconds). That long period will give it some shape and push. The combined energy is 316, which is moderate. It’s not big, but with glassy conditions it’ll be clean. This is a decent option if you’re itching for a surf.

The best session of the whole run lands on Monday the 31st of August. Again a glassy morning, with a 2ft SW groundswell at 15 seconds. The wind is calm, the water will be clean, and those long-period lines will wrap into the point. Combined energy is 261, moderate. This is the one to circle on the calendar.

After that, things go a bit flat again. A few mornings in early September have marginal conditions, but nothing to get excited about. The combined energy spikes on Wednesday the 2nd of September morning (520), but it’s a 5ft WNW swell with onshore wind, so it’ll be lumpy.

The final highlight is on Sunday the 6th of September. A glassy, calm morning with a 5ft NW swell at 12 seconds. The combined energy is 762, which is moderate to strong. That’s a good looking groundswell, and with zero wind it’ll be clean and lined up. This is the pick of the second week, but it’s a long way out so keep an eye on the forecast.

For the most part, Otter Rock is a point break that handles westerly swell. The optimum direction is west, so the SW and WNW swells we see are okay but not perfect. Crowds can be an issue here, so on those glassy mornings get in early.

If you’re a beginner, most of the swell stays under 5ft, so it’s manageable, but the consistency is only “fairly consistent” so don’t expect endless waves.

Rusty.

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