Otter Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Otter Rock.

First thing you need to know, the water is running *much colder than normal* for this time of year, sitting at 52°F with a -6°F anomaly. That’s a serious chill, so a thick steamer is non-negotiable if you’re paddling out.

Straight off the bat, I’ve gotta be honest with you – the outlook is not pretty. The whole 16-day window is a bit of a write-off for *quality* surf. We’ve got a long stretch of persistent cross-onshore winds from the NW and NNW just wrecking the surface. Through the end of July and into the first week of August, the swell is small to moderate, but the wind is just junk. On Friday 31st July, we’re looking at a tiny 2ft swell from the SW with a 14-second period, but it’s cross-on and choppy. The energy is weak (355). Saturday 1st August is similar, with a bit of a bump in the afternoon to 4ft, but the period drops to 8 seconds, and it’s still messy.

The start of August sees a slow build in swell height, but the wind stays stubbornly cross or cross-onshore. Sunday 2nd August has a pulse of 5ft to 6ft from the WNW with moderate energy (467 to 535), but the wind is fresh and lumpy. By mid-week, around Wednesday 5th August, the swell hits 8ft to 8ft from the NW, with strong energy (837 to 1010), but it’s still cross-onshore and choppy. That’s big enough for a few heavy closes-outs, but the quality is just not there. The 6th and 7th of August show a slight improvement in the morning with lighter winds, but the swell is still 7ft and the comment is only “marginal.” The period is a solid 9 seconds, which is decent, but the wind angle is still a problem.

The second week continues the same story. From Saturday 8th August through to Saturday 15th August, the swell hangs around 5ft to 7ft, but the wind is relentlessly cross-onshore from the NW or NNW. There’s a brief moment on Thursday 13th August morning where the wind drops to a light breeze from the WNW, and the swell is a clean 2ft from the WNW with a 14-second period. The energy is moderate (510) and it’s rated as “marginal,” but that’s the best the window has to offer. By the afternoon, it’s gone again.

The final days, from 14th to 15th August, see the swell drop right back to 2ft to 2ft with very long periods of 15 to 18 seconds. That groundswell energy is moderate (399 to 482), but it’s a long-period swell for a point break, which can be tricky. The wind is still cross or cross-on, keeping the surface messy.

There is no standout session in this window. The best you’ll find is a quick paddle on Thursday 13th August morning when the wind is light, but it’s not a day to write home about. For the rest of the time, this setup is looking more interesting for kite surfers than paddle surfers, given the consistent cross-shore wind and lumpy conditions.

Remember, Otter Rock is a point break that’s fairly consistent, and it’s exposed to the west, so it needs the right angle. The winds just aren’t lining up. It’s a long, bleak run of marginal conditions, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. Forecasts can change, so keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

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