Port Orford Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s talk Port Orford (Port Orford). The water’s chillin' at 50°F, which is a solid 7°F colder than usual – that’s a serious wake-up call, so don’t even think about a spring suit.

The first week is a total bust. Nothing worth paddling for until Saturday, July 18th – that’s a six-day gap of flat or crummy conditions. The wind is rippin' out of the north at 15 to 25 mph, and the swell is either tiny or short-period junk. Even with clean offshore wind, 2 ft to 5 ft of weak, crumbly energy (between 139 and 320) isn’t gonna light your fire. Tuesday the 15th through Thursday the 17th has some weird long-period groundswell (18 to 19 seconds), but it’s only 2 ft to 2 ft from the SW and WNW – the combined energy climbs a bit (416 to 565), but it’s way too small to get excited about. Friday the 17th sees a sudden spike: 8 ft to 8 ft from the NNW, but with a period of only 7 seconds and a 25 mph north wind, it’s gonna be a blown-out, choppy mess. That’s big enough for experts only, and the quality is poor.

Here’s the standout. Saturday, July 18th is the day. You’ve got a solid 7 ft to 7 ft of NNW swell (8-second period) with a gentle offshore breeze (9 mph from the NNW). The combined energy is strong at 1218 to 1320, and the forecast says “very good surf conditions.” This is the best on offer: clean, with some punch, and offshore all day. It’s a bit big for beginners at over 7 ft, but for anyone with experience, it’ll be a fun, racetrack kind of wave. Sunday the 19th and Monday the 20th are still good, with 6 ft of NNW swell and lighter winds (6 mph), though the wind goes cross-offshore on Monday, so it’ll be rideable but not glassy. The crowds are “often” – so expect a few heads in the water, but it’s worth it.

After that, from Tuesday the 21st through the end of the window, the wind kicks back up (15 to 22 mph from the north) and the swell holds at 6 ft to 10 ft, but the short period (6 to 9 seconds) and strong, gusty offshore wind will make it a bumpy, ugly mess. The combined energy stays moderate to strong (up to 1339), but the “marginal” comments tell me it’s gonna be a hard paddle and a hard read. The 10 ft forecast for Wednesday the 22nd is strictly for the brave, and with that wind, it’s more of a kitesurfing show than a paddle session.

Rusty.

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