Port Orford Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks around Port Orford.

Truth be told, the first few days are a bit of a grind. We’ve got some swell, but it’s short-period stuff, and the quality is just not there. Sunday the 19th sees a 8ft swell from the NNW, but with a period of just 7 seconds, it’s going to be a lumpy, bumpy mess. The wind is a fresh offshore from the north at 19 to 22 mph, which sounds clean, but the wave energy is moderate (1031 to 1036) and the conditions are just marginal. This one’s for the dedicated locals only.

Monday the 20th is a step in the right direction. The swell drops to 7ft in the morning, still from the NNW, but the period stretches to 8 seconds. The wind is a light cross-offshore, and the combined energy (584) is still moderate. It’s clean, but it’s not a standout. The afternoon gets even better, with a 6ft NW swell, a light offshore breeze, and a clean face. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Now, let’s talk about the real action. The 24th of July, Friday afternoon, a very long-period groundswell from the SW shows up with a 24-second period, but the height is only 3ft. The energy jumps to a strong 1294, and the wind is a fresh offshore from the north. This is a tease.

The real standout comes on Saturday the 25th of July. The morning session is the best on offer. A 3ft swell from the SW with a 21-second period, combined with a moderate offshore wind, creates very good surf conditions. The energy is strong at 1300. This is a long-period groundswell, so it’s going to be clean, lined up, and perfect for the reefs and points. The crowds are often an issue here, so you’ll want to be out early. This is a quality wave, but the size is small, so it’s not a big-wave day.

The string of good swells continues into the 26th of July, Sunday morning. Another 4ft SW groundswell with a 19-second period, and a gentle offshore wind. The energy is strong at 1100. This is another very good session, but again, it’s a small, long-period swell that will be best at a point or reef.

After that, the surf fades fast. The 27th and 28th are mostly flat, with a tiny 4ft NW windswell popping up on the 28th. It’s ordinary.

The 29th of July, Wednesday, brings a bigger 6ft swell from the NNW, but the period is only 10 seconds and the energy is moderate (624). The wind is cross-offshore, so it’s clean, but the quality is marginal. The 30th sees a 3ft SW groundswell with a 16-second period and strong energy (634), making for good surf conditions, but the size is tiny.

The final few days of the outlook, from the 31st of July through the 3rd of August, are all about NNW windswell with short periods and strong offshore winds. The swell height is consistently over 7ft, reaching 8ft, but the period is only 7 or 8 seconds. The energy is moderate (462 to 648). This is a classic case of a lot of water moving around but no real shape. The strong offshore winds will keep the surface clean, but the waves will be choppy and hard to paddle into. This is better for the kite crew than a pure paddle surfer. For the experts, there might be a few chunky, hollow ones, but it’s not a day for beginners.

So, to wrap it up: the best windows are Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th of July. Small, but beautifully clean, long-period groundswell. That’s the one to circle on the calendar. The rest is a mix of marginal windswell or flat spells.

Rusty.

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