Pacific City/Cape Kiwanda Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for the Pacific City/Cape Kiwanda stretch over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a solid pulse of swell arriving Thursday, but it’s not going to be pretty. The wind is howling out of the SSE at 12 mph, which is a cross-off breeze, but it’s bringing rain and the energy is a bit messy. The wave height is running 8 ft, with a moderate-long period of 11 seconds from the WNW. The combined energy is strong at 1911, so there’s plenty of water moving, but the conditions are marginal. Thursday afternoon the wind eases to 9 mph, still cross-off, and the swell drops slightly to 8 ft, but the energy is still high (1677). This is big stuff – over 8 ft, so it’s really only for experienced surfers, and the quality isn’t clean enough to call it a standout.

Friday morning, September 4th, is where the real magic happens. The wind goes glassy – dead calm, with an ESE breeze at just 3 mph. The swell drops to a very manageable 5 ft from the WNW, with a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy is moderate at 501, but the conditions are clean and glassy. This is a standout session for anyone who can paddle out. The water temp is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, sitting at 57°, which is about 2° below average, so you’ll want a good wetsuit.

Friday afternoon, the wind shifts to the NNW at 6 mph, turning cross-shore, and the swell backs off to 4 ft, but the quality drops. It’s marginal. The weekend slows right down. Saturday morning, September 5th, is glassy again with a tiny 2 ft swell from the SW, but the period is a very long 16 seconds. That long period groundswell will be tricky on the beach sections – it’ll break straight and be better suited to the reef areas. The combined energy is only weak at 493. Sunday is similar, with glassy conditions and a 2 ft, 15-second SW swell (energy 400). It’s small, but for a longboard or a funboard, it’ll be clean and fun.

Monday through Wednesday of the first week are small and mostly cross-onshore. The swell barely cracks 3 ft, and the wind is light but wrong for the peak. Not worth the drive.

We then hit a long gap of marginal, small, and poor surf from the 10th of September through the 11th. The swell is tiny (2 ft to 3 ft) and the wind is cross or cross-on. Not much to get excited about.

Then, on Saturday, September 12th, we get a big spike. The swell jumps to 7 ft in the morning, hitting 10 ft in the afternoon from the SSW, with a period of 11-12 seconds. The combined energy is strong (1509 and 2131). But the wind is cross-on from the NNW, and the conditions are described as marginal and choppy. For a beach-and-reef setup, this is more of a kite-surfing day than a clean paddle session. The size is well over 8 ft, so it’s experts only, and the wind hurts its potential.

The second week, from the 13th to the 18th of September, we see a lot of consistent 4 ft to 7 ft NW swell, but the wind is almost always cross or cross-on from the N or NNW. The periods are short (8-9 seconds), meaning weaker, wind-affected waves. The combined energy stays in the moderate range (400-869). Nothing here will be clean enough to call a standout. The Thursday morning, September 17th, has a 5 ft NW swell with a 10-second period and cross-shore wind, but it’s a marginal call.

The best on offer is undeniably Friday morning, September 4th, at Pacific City/Cape Kiwanda. That 5 ft WNW swell with glassy conditions and moderate energy (501) is a perfect window for a range of abilities. If you’re after a true clean session, that’s your window.

The Saturday, September 12th, drop is big and powerful, but the wind kills it for a surfer. It’s a big, choppy mess.

So, overall, one clear standout in the first week, then a long slow period with a few pulses of size but poor wind. Forecasts can change, but as it looks now, pick your moment early.

Rusty.

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