Port Orford Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for Port Orford.

Honestly, the next week and a half is a tough slog. There’s no real swell on the menu for the first few days, and the window for a good wave is real narrow. The water is sitting at a chilly 51°F, which is a massive 6°F colder than usual for this time of year – that’s very unusual, so bring a thick hood and boots.

The first chance we get is on Tuesday afternoon, July 21st. It’s small, with a 4ft NW swell at 8 seconds, and the wind is a cross-off from the NNW. The wave energy is weak (151), so you’re looking at clean but gutless lines. It’s surfable, but very ordinary.

The rest of the week is a write-off. Wednesday through to Saturday morning (July 22nd to 25th) sees onshore and cross-on winds with tiny, weak swell. The combined energy dips into the 120s and 130s, and the conditions are poor. Not worth paddling out for.

There’s a glimmer on Sunday morning, July 26th. The wind goes clean with a cross-off from the NNW, and we’ve got a proper 4ft SW groundswell with a 19-second period. The combined energy jumps to 1175 (strong). This is a long-period groundswell, so at Port Orford, which is a sheltered spot, it should wrap in nicely. The long period means it’ll have some punch, and the clean wind should make it glassy. This is the one standout for the whole forecast. The crowd profile is “often” here, so expect some company.

After that, Monday and Tuesday (July 27th-28th) drop back to small, clean but weak conditions. Wednesday, July 29th, has a moderate offshore wind and a 4ft WNW swell, but the energy is still in the low 200s – just ordinary.

We hit a gap of a few days with no real recommendations until we get to the very end of the forecast. Saturday, August 1st, things get a bit more interesting, but it’s for experts only. A 8ft NNW swell with a short 7-second period, and strong offshore winds from the N at 15 mph. The energy is moderate (506). The short period means it’s going to be a bit lumpy and hollow, but with that offshore wind, it’ll be clean. By Sunday, August 2nd, it’s 8ft again, but with a fresh 19 mph offshore wind – that’s a lot of wind. The swell is over 8ft by Monday, August 3rd, hitting 10ft, with a strong 22 mph offshore. This is solid, heavy, and only for the experienced crew. The wave energy is very strong (1076-1085). This is a long-range call, so less certain, but if it lines up, it’ll be a proper session.

So, bottom line: the best bet is Sunday morning, July 26th for that clean, long-period groundswell. If you’re an expert, keep an eye on the first few days of August for the bigger, wind-blown stuff.

Rusty.

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