Port Orford Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's check out what our local wave machines are cooking up. It's a slow start, but there's a real payoff waiting for those who can read the calendar.

The water's about normal for this time of year, so no shock to the system.

We've got a dry spell to start. Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th are a total bust. Strong southerly winds are ruining the 7ft to 8ft WNW swell. Total mess. Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th are still pretty ordinary, with weak 4ft to 4ft NW swell. The wind does clean up, going light and offshore at times, but the wave energy is low. You could find a weak one, but it's not worth the drive. Monday the 7th and Tuesday the 8th are the same story – small, clean, but powerless. Wednesday the 9th is a tiny day, but it ends with a weird little 2ft, 16-second groundswell from the SW, a hint of the good stuff.

Now, Thursday the 10th is where it gets real. That SW groundswell hits. We're looking at 3ft to 3ft of swell, but with a very long period of 17 seconds and good energy. The wind is offshore from the NNW, so Port Orford will be clean and glassy. This is a serious session for a longboard or a fun log. The beach breaks will be fat and straight, so stick to the points.

The real standout, the one you book the day off for, is Saturday the 12th of September. That's the money day. The swell jumps up to 6ft to 7ft from the NW, with a solid 12-second period and very strong wave energy. The wind is clean offshore from the north all day. This is going to be proper, lined-up surf. Not too big for a good crew, but it'll handle the big boards and shortboards alike. Sunday the 13th holds a bit of that size, but the energy fades.

Then, for the big dogs, Monday the 14th of September is the heavy hitter. We're looking at a 10ft NW swell with a 10-second period, and the wave energy is absolutely pumping. The wind is offshore from the north, but at 15 mph, it's a moderate breeze. This is big, powerful, expert-only territory. The swell is over 8ft, so it's for experts only.

The week after that (15th to 18th) sees the swell drop and the wind gets stronger, with a fresh breeze hitting 18-19 mph, making for choppy, marginal conditions. Friday the 18th of September offers a last little glimmer, with a clean 6ft NW swell and light winds, but it's a distant prospect.

So, to sum it up: the best on offer is Saturday the 12th for a solid, clean, fun-sized swell. For the brave and experienced, Monday the 14th is the huge, powerful payoff. The rest of the time is small, or big and windy.

Rusty.

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