Port Orford Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for Port Orford over the next couple of weeks.

Straight off the bat, we’ve got a real one-off on Monday the 27th of July. That’s the standout of the whole period. We’re looking at a beautiful 4 ft swell from the southwest, with a very long period of 18 seconds – that’s proper groundswell, packing a serious punch. The combined energy is strong at 1088, so there’s plenty of power in the water. What makes it special is the light WNW cross-off breeze at 6 mph, keeping things clean. The only catch is that this spot is sheltered and can be inconsistent, so don’t expect it to be pumping all day, but if you snag a set, it’ll be worth it. The water is sitting at 52°, which is a whopping 5° colder than usual for this time of year – that’s much colder than normal, so bring the thickest wetsuit you’ve got.

After that, things get a bit ordinary, to be honest. From Tuesday the 28th through the end of July, we’ve got a solid run of offshore winds – mostly from the north – but the swell is small and weak. You’ll see heights around 3 ft to 4 ft, but the periods drop to 8-9 seconds, and the energy is low to moderate (between 94 and 222). The waves are surfable but very ordinary. Fine for a gentle paddle, but nothing to get excited about.

Then we hit a bit of a dry spell. From the 1st of August, the wind really starts to howl out of the north, hitting 19 to 25 mph. The swell does pick up a bit – you’ll see 8 ft to 10 ft on the 2nd and 3rd – but the period is short (6-7 seconds), and the energy is moderate to strong (489 to 881). The wind is so strong it’s hard to paddle into, and the quality is poor. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. That’s a gap of several days with no real recommendations.

The only glimmer in the second week comes on Wednesday the 5th of August. We’ve got an 8 ft swell from the NNW with an 8-second period, and moderate offshore wind at 16 mph. The energy is strong at 784, and the conditions are described as “good.” However, at 8 ft, this is pushing into expert-only territory, especially with that strong offshore wind making it bumpy. It’s a promising option for the brave, but not one for the faint of heart.

The rest of the second week (6th to 11th of August) is a mix of marginal surf, poor conditions, and strong winds. The swell drops back down to 3 ft or less, but the wind stays relentless. Not much to write home about.

So, the pick of the bunch is Monday the 27th of July. Get out there early, score that long-period southwest swell while it’s clean, and don’t forget your hood.

Rusty.

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