Otter Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what Otter Rock has in store for us over the next couple of weeks.

To be straight with you, the outlook is a tough watch. For days on end, the conditions are just not cooperating. Starting from this Saturday, August 15th, right through to the end of the month, we’ve got persistent cross-onshore winds and choppy surf messing up the lineup. The swell is small, mostly around 1.6 ft to 3.3 ft from the SSW through WNW, with combined wave energy mostly ranging between 247 and 499 (moderate). But with those winds, it’s just not worth paddling out.

The water is running at 52.5°F, which is 6.5°F colder than normal for this time of year – that’s very unusual, so you’ll want a thick wetsuit if you're even thinking about it.

The only real chance for a surf comes on Friday, August 21st, in the morning. We get a brief moment of glassy conditions that morning with the wind going near dead calm, and the swell pushing a modest 2.6 ft from the WNW with a period of 10 seconds. The combined energy is 379 (moderate), and the break is a fairly consistent point. This is the standout window, but it’s short – the afternoon goes right back to choppy. For a beginner-friendly point, it’s a small window of clean, rideable waves. Just be aware this spot can get crowded, so get out early.

After that, we’re straight back into a long run of poor surf all the way through the end of the month. The swell picks up a bit – hitting 4.9 ft to 5.2 ft with shorter periods from the NNW, and combined energy climbing significantly (up to 544), but it’s all cross-shore and messy. At 5.2 ft, it's right at the top end for beginners, and with the chop it’s really only going to be interesting for kitesurfers, not paddle surfers. Wave heights above 4.9 ft, short period, and cross-winds all add up to a poor bet for us.

So, the only session to circle is the morning of Friday the 21st. After that, it’s an 8-day stretch with zero recommendations. Not ideal, but that’s the reality for this spot in this window. Let’s hope the forecasts change, because it doesn’t tend to stay this poor for that long.

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