Port Orford Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s talk about the next stretch of waves. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, so let's get into it.

The water at Port Orford is currently running at 51°F – that's a solid 6°F colder than usual for this time of year. You’re gonna want the thickest hood and gloves you’ve got. It’s not just a little chilly, it’s properly cold.

The first few days are a write-off for any real surfing. We’ve got the wind howling offshore, but the swell is short-period junk with weak energy. Sunday the 9th and Monday the 10th are all about 6-second wind slop. The combined energy is weak to moderate, with readings between 282 and 471, but it’s not translating into anything ridable. Just lumpy, bumpy mess. Tuesday the 11th drops off even more, with tiny 1ft surf on Tuesday morning.

The middle of the week isn't much better. Wednesday the 12th afternoon shows a bump in size to 7ft, but it’s still that short-period stuff, and it’s getting a score of “marginal” at best. Thursday the 13th has similar issues, with 6ft surf but poor quality. The energy is picking up a bit – 618 on Thursday afternoon – but the period is still under 8 seconds, so it’s just not going to have any push or shape.

We finally see a glimmer of hope on Friday the 14th. The wind eases to a moderate offshore breeze from the NNW, and the swell comes in at a cleaner 5ft with an 8-second period. It’s still not epic, but it’s the first day where the conditions are actually "good" according to the data. The energy is moderate at 471. I’d say this is the first real chance to get wet if you're desperate.

Saturday the 15th is a step down. The swell drops to 3ft, and the energy backs off to 214. It’s surfable but ordinary. Sunday the 16th looks poor again, with a light cross-shore breeze killing any chance of clean waves.

There’s a real flat spell from Sunday the 16th through the following week. We're looking at a few days of tiny, weak surf until things start to creep back up. The period starts to lengthen around Tuesday the 19th, but the swell is still small. By Wednesday the 20th, it's still under 3ft. It’s not until the next weekend, around Saturday the 23rd, that we see the swell direction shift to the SW, but even then, it's just small and weak, with energy values in the low 200s.

Now, the standout. Keep your eyes on Monday the 24th of August. That morning is looking like the best bet of the whole window. We have a solid 8ft swell from the NNW with a 7-second period, but the key ingredient is the wind – it's forecast to be glassy. The combined energy is a strong 809, which is the biggest reading we see all window. It’s not the longest period, so it might be a bit walled up, but with that amount of energy and glassy conditions, Port Orford should have some serious power. The afternoon of the 24th sees it jump to 10ft, but the wind turns onshore, which will chop it up and make it tricky. So, the early bird slot on Monday the 24th is the one.

Given the cold water and the fact that 8ft is pushing it for a learner, this is definitely a spot for more advanced surfers. The crowds are listed as "often" at this break, so expect some company if you go. Port Orford is a sheltered spot, and the optimum direction is from the NW, which is exactly what we have on that Monday.

Basically, the next week and a half is about patience. There are some rideable days, but nothing special. The standout is that Monday the 24th – it’s looking like the day to make a plan for. Everything after that is too far out to call with any certainty, but that one morning has proper potential.

Stay warm, stay patient.

Rusty.

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