Otter Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. This forecast for Otter Rock is a long, frustrating stretch where the surf just can’t catch a break. The first several days are poor to marginal, and it’s not until the first week of August that the swell finally shows up, but the wind keeps spoiling it. For a point that’s consistently rideable, it’s a real patience test. There’s a gap of about four days before anything worth talking about, and even then, the conditions are a battle.

We start on Wednesday the 29th of July with a long-period groundswell of 3ft from the southwest, period at 16 seconds – the kind of energy that should get the point humming, but the wind is cross-onshore at 12 mph, and the water temperature is a very strange 51°F, a full 7° colder than usual. The combined swell energy is moderate at 552. Just a messy, uncomfortable start. That pattern of small SW swell and cross-onshore winds hangs on through the end of July and into the 1st of August, with wave heights around 2ft to 3ft. Thursday the 30th and Friday the 31st are a little lighter with the wind, but it’s still cross-onshore.

Saturday the 1st of August morning brings a tiny 2ft from the southwest, very weak energy (240), but by the afternoon a short-period 3ft from the west appears, period a weak 8 seconds. The wind stays onshore through Sunday the 2nd, with the swell bumping to 4ft, and by Sunday afternoon the wind cranks to 19 mph cross-shore – that’s a kite day, not a paddle session.

From Monday the 3rd of August through Wednesday the 5th, the swell climbs from 5ft to 7ft, all from the northwest. The period is short (6 to 8 seconds) and the wind is either cross or cross-onshore, with speeds up to 19 mph. The combined energy hits 743 on the 5th afternoon, but it’s blown out and lumpy. Not the Otter Rock we know.

The one standout comes on Thursday the 6th of August. The morning shows a solid 8ft from the northwest with a period of 10 seconds – a nice groundswell – and the wind is a light cross-onshore at 6 mph, keeping it fairly clean. The combined energy is strong at 1145. That’s the best window in the whole 16 days. Thursday afternoon holds similar size at 8ft. This is a bit much for beginners – over 5ft – but for intermediate surfers who know the point, it’s the call. Light wind and decent long-period swell.

Friday the 7th morning looks almost as big at 8ft from the northwest, period 9 seconds, with light cross-onshore wind (6 mph) and energy at 982. Still good, but the period drops a bit.

After that, the swell hangs around 7ft to 7ft through the second week, but the wind gets stronger and more onshore or cross-shore, making things choppy. Saturday the 8th and Sunday the 9th are marginal, and by Monday the 10th the wind is back up to 12-19 mph cross-shore. A long period 2ft from the west-northwest shows up on Wednesday the 12th morning, but the wind is cross-shore and strong again.

So, if you’re paddling out at Otter Rock, you’re aiming for the 6th and 7th of August. That’s your window. Moderate to strong energy from the northwest, decent size, and light enough wind to make it worthwhile. The rest is either flat, blown out, or best left for the kite crew.

Rusty.

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