Port Orford Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what Port Orford has in store for us over the next couple of weeks.

Overall, it's a slow start with only knee-high dribbles, but there's a real gem hiding in the second week that'll get the heart pumping. For now, patience is the name of the game.

First up, Thursday the 27th through Monday the 1st of September, it’s all about small, clean but very ordinary surf. We're looking at swell heights mostly between 1 ft and 5 ft, with a few early morning pulses of 2 ft from the southwest. The wind is solidly offshore from the north, keeping things clean, but the wave energy is low, ranging from 17 to 350 (weak to low moderate). The standout in this first week is actually Friday morning, August 28th. The swell bumps up to 3 ft from the southwest with a nice 14-second period, and combined energy hits 430. It's still small, but with that long-period groundswell and clean north winds, it'll be the most fun you'll have all week. Just don't expect much power.

Tuesday the 2nd of September through Sunday the 7th sees a bit more size, but the quality is still up and down. The morning of Friday, September 4th, is the clear pick here. Swell builds to 6 ft from the NNW, with a 10-second period and wind energy of 704. That's moderate to strong energy. N winds at 16 mph will keep the face clean. However, that 6 ft is going to be a handful for beginners; it's edging into expert territory. The consistency is there but the quality is only ‘expect good conditions,’ so it's not a perfect, epic day, just the best of a mediocre run.

Then we get to the real prize. Tuesday, September 8th and Wednesday, September 9th are the absolute standouts of the entire forecast. The afternoon of Tuesday, September 8th, is top shelf: glassy conditions with the wind going flat calm from the west, and a solid 3 ft swell from the WNW with a *very* long 18-second period. Combined energy hits 616 (strong). That's groundswell with serious power. This is a point break style wave for sure – that long period will make it wall up perfectly. Then Wednesday, September 9th afternoon repeats the magic: glassy again, 4 ft from the WNW at 14 seconds, and combined energy at 672 (strong). These are the days to clear the schedule. The swell direction (WNW) is not the optimum NW, but with that power and those glassy conditions, it’s a no-brainer.

After that, the swell hangs around through Thursday and Friday, but the wind picks up a touch and the period drops, so it’s still fun but not as epic as those two days. The water temp is about average for the time of year here, no big anomaly to report.

Remember, Port Orford is an inconsistent, sheltered spot and can be a bit fickle. Crowds are often around too, so get in early on those glassy days in early September.

Rusty.

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