Otter Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's in store for us over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the first week or so is a tough one for Otter Rock. The opening days are a real grind. Monday the 24th to Saturday the 29th are pretty much a write-off. We're looking at tiny, weak swell, mostly under 2ft, and it's coming from the SW with a long period, but the wind is a persistent cross-onshore, messing up the surface. The wave energy is mostly weak, showing readings in the low 200s to low 300s for the combined energy of all swells directed here. The surf forecast is just a big "poor" or "marginal" for days on end. It's a real test of patience.

Now, there's a glimmer on Sunday the 30th. The morning session is a standout change. The wind drops to a dead calm, going glassy, and the swell bumps up to 2ft from the SW with a 16-second period. The combined energy of all swells jumps to 401, which is a solid sign of life. That's the best window in the first week, but it's a short-lived moment of glory before the afternoon cross-onshore chops it up again.

The real action, and what I'd be circling on the calendar, is the first week of September. We've got a couple of proper sessions. Tuesday the 1st of September, the morning brings a clean, cross-offshore breeze from the SSE, with a 4ft swell from the WNW. The period is a punchy 10 seconds, and the combined energy is a strong 481. That's a solid, surfable wave. The water temperature is a very unusual 49°F, which is a massive 10°F colder than usual for this time of year – so you'll be needing a thick wetsuit and boots, no question.

Then, the absolute standout of the whole forecast is Thursday the 3rd of September. The morning is pure magic. The wind is a dead calm, glassy, and the swell is a clean 4ft from the WNW, with a 9-second period. The combined energy of all swells is a moderate 540. This is a point break, so that longer-period groundswell is perfect for it, offering well-shaped, lined-up waves. It's a "fairly consistent" break, but crowds are "often" so you'll have company. This is the one to aim for – clean, punchy, and just about right for a good crew.

Wednesday the 2nd of September sees a big jump in size, but it's a bit of a mixed bag. The morning has an 8ft SW swell, and the afternoon brings a 10ft SSW swell with a short 8-second period. The combined energy of all swells is huge – 1220 in the afternoon. That's expert territory, and with a short period and cross-onshore wind, it's going to be a messy, powerful wall of water. More for the experienced crew or maybe even the kite surfers, as the wind is onshore and the setup is a point.

The second week fades again. Friday the 5th and Saturday the 6th of September offer some glassy mornings with small 2ft to 3ft SW swell, but the energy drops off. Monday the 8th of September has a tiny 1ft swell with a very long 21-second period, but at a point break, it might just produce a few clean, roly-poly bombs.

So, the call is clear. The best of the best is the morning of Thursday the 3rd of September. The backup is the morning of Tuesday the 1st of September. If you can't make those, the glassy window on Sunday the 30th of August is a passable consolation prize.

Rusty

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