Otter Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what Otter Rock has in store for us over the next couple of weeks. I gotta be straight with you – this is a tough one. The forecast is showing a long stretch of pretty ordinary conditions right from the start, with the first proper surf recommendation not showing up for days.

We kick off on Thursday, July 2nd, with a tiny 2ft swell out of the southwest, and it’s a 16-second period groundswell, which sounds nice, but combined energy is only low to moderate (339) and the wind is a light cross-onshore. The water temp is sitting at 55°, and with an anomaly of 4° colder than normal for this time of year – that’s very unusual, you’ll want a thick suit. But honestly, the surf is poor, the quality is zero, and we’re getting nowhere fast. Friday and Saturday are more of the same, with a bit of a bump in size up to around 4ft, but it’s a short-period windswell (8 seconds) with cross-onshore breezes that just chop everything up.

Sunday the 5th sees the swell actually push up to 5ft to 6ft from the northwest, with moderate wave energy (498 to 618) but the wind goes cross-shore and it’s lumpy. Still no quality on offer. This pattern of poor surf just keeps grinding on through Monday and Tuesday – even a glimpse of offshore wind on the morning of Tuesday the 7th with a 2ft southwest groundswell only gets us a marginal rating. The wind is light though, so if you're desperate, it might be glassy clean, but the waves are tiny.

The real kicker arrives on Thursday, July 16th in the afternoon. A solid 5ft northwest swell rolls in with a period of 12 seconds and combined energy jumps up to a strong 1374. That’s the biggest energy we’ve seen by miles. But – and it’s a big but – the wind is a moderate cross-onshore and the surf quality is still listed as poor. It’s a frustrating one. That kind of energy with clean wind would be gold, but not this time. The rest of the run into Friday the 17th stays lackluster, with cross-onshore wind ruining any chance of clean faces.

So, what’s the standout? Honestly, there isn't a true standout here. The closest we get to a window is on Thursday morning, July 9th, where a 5ft swell from the west-northwest with a 9-second period and light cross-onshore wind is at least surfable, even if it’s marginal. The water’s still cold, the conditions are far from perfect, but if you need a paddle, that's your best bet. For the rest, it’s a long, flat, choppy wait.

Stay patient, keep an eye on the forecasts, and don't force it.

Rusty.

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