Port Orford Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what we’ve got for Port Orford over the next couple of weeks. Gotta be straight with you – the start is a bit of a dud. There’s nothing worth paddling out for right now, so we’re looking at a real quiet opening.

We’re coming out of a pretty dead stretch, with no real surf on offer for the first few days. The water is sitting at 51°F, which is a staggering 7°F colder than normal for this time of year. That’s a serious anomaly, so don’t forget the thickest wetsuit you own.

Tuesday 18th & Wednesday 19th – Just forget it. Tiny, weak, and the wind is howling offshore at 15 to 19 mph. The energy is low (90 and 149), and the waves are too small and messy to bother with.

Thursday 20th – We finally see a little pulse. The morning shows 3ft from the WNW (11-second period) with a light cross-offshore breeze. It’s surfable, but ordinary. Combined swell energy is moderate (364). It’s a "maybe" session for a longboard or a foiler.

Friday 21st – Similar story. Dropping a bit, 3ft in the morning, light cross-off wind. Still nothing to write home about (energy at 246). It’s a limp end to the working week.

Saturday 22nd – A weird one. The morning has a short-period 3ft NNW swell (7 seconds) with a moderate offshore wind, but the afternoon sees a sudden 1.0ft long-period SW groundswell (18 seconds) with fresh offshore wind. Energy drops to 96. It’s tiny and weird. Not worth it.

Sunday 23rd – Now we’re talking size, but it’s a bit of a beast. A 7ft NNW short-period swell (7 seconds) under strong offshore winds. That’s over 5ft, so beginners, sit this one out. The combined energy is strong (578), but that short period and stiff wind will make it bumpy and challenging. This is for experienced locals only, and even then, it’s a tricky, wind-affected session.

Monday 24th – The *first real standout*. We get a 2ft SW groundswell (18 seconds) with a moderate offshore breeze. The energy is strong (445). That very long period (18 seconds) means proper lines of energy. This is a *rivers mouth or reef kind of day* – the point at Port Orford should handle this beautifully. Clean, good shape, and that long period will give you long, waiting sets. The morning is the pick.

Tuesday 25th – Another solid day. 2ft SW groundswell (16 seconds), moderate offshore wind. Energy is pumping at 444. The afternoon session is looking particularly clean and rewarding. Another day for the point break specialists.

Wednesday 26th – This is the *absolute best on offer*. Morning and afternoon are both money. 4ft from the NW (10 seconds), moderate offshore wind. The combined swell energy is very strong (519 in the morning, 529 in the afternoon). It’s consistent, clean, and the size is perfect for all levels – not too big, not too small. The offshore winds will groom those faces nicely.

Thursday 27th – Size bumps up again. Morning sees 6ft from the NNW (short period, 6 seconds) with light cross-offshore wind. Energy is strong (403). Afternoon holds 6ft with a gentle offshore breeze. This is approachable for confident intermediates, but the short period means it will pitch fast.

Friday 28th – Hanging in there. 5ft from the NNW (7 seconds), moderate offshore. Energy is still strong (473). It’s getting a little more ordinary as the day wears on, but still a good option for a surf.

Saturday 29th – A sudden drop. Tiny, weak, and the wind swings onshore in the afternoon. 2ft to 3ft, with poor conditions. Forget it.

Sunday 30th – Another write-off. Small, weak, onshore wind. Not your day.

Monday 31st – Back to small and ordinary. 4ft from the NW (6 seconds) in the morning, clean but weak. Not worth getting excited about.

Tuesday 1st & Wednesday 2nd September – The very end of the window is a fade-out. Small, weak NNW swell (7 seconds). The Wednesday morning is glassy, but it’s only 3ft (energy 120). A longboarder’s morning, maybe.

To sum it up: Wednesday 26th August is your hero day. 4ft of clean, offshore NW swell with proper energy. That’s the one to circle. Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th are also excellent, especially for those who love a long-period groundswell. The rest is a mix of small to challenging or just plain flat.

Stay patient, and don’t sleep on that Wednesday morning session.

- Rusty

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