Port Orford Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and we’re looking at the next couple of weeks for Port Orford. Let’s be straight with each other—the start is a bit of a write-off. We’ve got a long gap ahead with no real options.

Port Orford is a tricky one. It’s sheltered, inconsistent, and only really breaks for the advanced crew. The water temperature is sitting at 53°F right now, which is 4°F colder than usual for the time of year. That’s a serious chill, so don’t even think about a spring suit.

The first real shot at something half-decent doesn’t appear until Sunday morning, July 5th, with a 8ft swell from the NNW. But that’s a short-period 7-second wind swell, and it’s got a combined energy of 649 (moderate). The wind is offshore, though, coming in at 19 mph from the N. It’s clean, but that short period means it’ll be a bit messy and bowling, not super user-friendly. Sunday afternoon bumps up to 8ft from the same direction, same short period, with 861 energy, but it’s still a marginal call. It’s surfable if you’re desperate and can handle a bit of a chop.

We get a bit of a pulse through Monday, July 6th. Morning shows 6ft from the NNW (period 7s, energy 555), and the afternoon goes 6ft from the NW with a jump in period to 11 seconds. That afternoon wave has 806 energy and is actually a better shaped groundswell. The wind stays offshore from the N at 19 mph. That Monday afternoon is probably the best we get in this first week, but it’s still just marginal.

From Tuesday, July 7th, it drops right back. You’re looking at 3ft or less for most of the following days, with nothing that really grabs you. There’s a stretch from the 8th through the 14th where it’s just no good—poor surf conditions, tiny waves, and the occasional longer period swell that’s too small to do anything with. The combined energy drops way down, often below 100 (weak), like on Friday the 10th where it’s a paltry 80. That’s a full week of doldrums.

Now, looking further into the second week, there’s a glimmer. On Wednesday, July 15th, we see a very long-period 21-second swell from the WNW, but it’s only 2ft. The energy is there at 635 (moderate), but that’s a slow, fat roll for a beach break, and the wind is a stiff 25 mph from the N. That’s more of a kite-surfing breeze than a nice paddle.

The real standout, if it holds, is that run starting Thursday, July 16th. Thursday morning has a 3ft WNW swell with a 19-second period and a combined energy of 1016 (strong). By Friday, July 17th, it’s building fast: 8ft from the NNW in the morning (period 7s, energy 1349), blowing out to 10ft by the afternoon (1553 energy). Saturday, July 18th, looks solid too, with 10ft in the morning and 8ft in the afternoon from the NNW, carrying energy into the 1600s. That is serious, strong-to-very-strong energy.

But here’s the catch: that 10ft stuff is big. Over 8ft, that’s only for the expert crew. And it’s clean wind-wise, with a consistent 19-22 mph offshore breeze from the N. That will hold it open. But the period is short—7 to 8 seconds—so it’ll be a powerful, steep, fast-moving wall. Port Orford is already a tough, inconsistent spot, so when it gets this big and short-period, it’s a beast. If you’re not on your game, leave it alone.

For the absolute best on offer in the whole 16-day window, I’d say lock in Sunday afternoon, July 19th. The swell is 10ft from the NNW, period stretches to 10 seconds, and the combined energy is a massive 2047 (very strong). That’s the biggest energy reading of the run. The wind is 25 mph from the N, which is strong offshore. It’ll be clean but a real battle to get out.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is mostly a write-off, with a tiny window on Monday afternoon, July 6th, as the only weak recommendation. Then we get a massive blank stretch. The second week looks promising, with a definite pulse of strong, expert-only swell starting around July 17th through the 19th. Keep an eye on it, but don’t get your hopes up until it’s closer.

Rusty.

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