Port Orford Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let me tell you what's going on with the local surf. We've got a mixed bag coming up over the next couple of weeks, but there are a few windows to keep an eye on.

The opening stretch is pretty ordinary. Friday the 31st of July through Saturday the 1st of August, we’re looking at small, weak waves. The swell is only around 3 ft to 3 ft from the WNW with a period of 8 to 9 seconds, and the combined energy is low (124 in the morning, dropping to 68 by Saturday afternoon). The wind is offshore, which is nice, but the waves just don't have the grunt. It's a bit of a flat spell to start.

Things start to pick up from Sunday the 2nd of August. The swell builds to 5 ft, then 5 ft, and the energy jumps to 510 by the afternoon. But it's messy. The wind is howling at 22 mph from the north, and while it's offshore, that much wind chops up the surface. The wave comment says "poor surf conditions," so it's not worth the paddle. By Monday the 3rd, the swell hits 8 ft from the NNW, but the period is short at 7 seconds, making for a lumpy, weak wave. Tuesday the 4th through Sunday the 9th of August is a long stretch of the same story: 7 ft to 8 ft swell from the NNW, but with a short period (7-8 seconds) and a fresh to strong north wind. The energy is moderate (between 495 and 971), but the quality is just not there. The surf is too big and wind-affected for a fun session, though it could be a dream for the kite surfers out there.

The second week, from Monday the 10th of August onwards, the swell starts to drop a little. Monday morning sees 7 ft, but by the afternoon it's down to 5 ft and the energy drops to 398. Still, the wind is relentless. Most of the week shows marginal conditions with 5 ft to 6 ft swell and fresh north winds. There is a weird blip on Tuesday the 11th afternoon with a tiny 2 ft swell from the SW with a very long 19-second period, but the energy is low (283) and it's a poor forecast.

The only real standout in this whole 16-day window is Thursday the 13th of August, in the afternoon. The swell is a solid 7 ft from the NNW, and the combined energy finally kicks up to 1257 – that's a strong, powerful setup. The wind is still a fresh offshore breeze, but the energy is there. The wave comment is a "marginal" call, but it's the best we've got. For a spot like Port Orford, which is a sheltered, inconsistent break that's best for advanced surfers, that strong energy could line up something special. It's a long way out, so don't bank on it, but it's the one to watch.

Rusty.

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