Taft (Siltetz River) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down the next couple of weeks for Taft (Siltetz River). The short story is, don’t get your hopes up for much of a ride for a while. We’re looking at a long, drawn-out stretch of poor to marginal conditions, with only a couple of late-stage windows that might be worth a look, but they come with a serious health warning. The first real surfable day doesn’t show up until Wednesday the 19th, and even then it’s a struggle. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual there.

The first few days, from Friday the 14th through Tuesday the 18th, are a total bust. We’ve got small, weak swell coming in from the SW and NW, with short periods and onshore or cross-onshore winds. The wave energy is weak, sitting between 163 and 399 (moderate wave energy). It’s all “poor surf conditions” – crumbly, messy, not worth paddling out for.

Things start to change a little on Wednesday the 19th. The swell picks up a bit, coming from the WNW at 3 ft to 4 ft, and the period stretches to 12 seconds. The wind is cross-shore, which is better than onshore, but it’s still a “marginal surf forecast.” The wave energy bumps up to 505 (strong to very strong wave energy), but the quality just isn’t there. Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st are similar – a little more size (4 ft to 5 ft) but still with onshore wind and questionable conditions. The energy drops back down to 445 (moderate wave energy) on Friday. It’s frustrating.

We hit a bit of a lull again over the weekend of the 23rd and 24th, with swell dropping back to 2 ft to 3 ft. The energy is weak, below 250. Not worth a second look.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. A new pulse of swell shows up on Tuesday the 25th and Wednesday the 26th. Tuesday sees 5 ft to 6 ft from the NW with a short period of 7 seconds, and the wind is cross-onshore. The energy is moderate at 363 to 434. But Wednesday the 26th is the true standout of the entire forecast. We’re looking at a solid 8 ft swell from the NW and NNW, with a period of 9 to 10 seconds. The combined swell energy is a massive 1257 (strong to very strong wave energy). This is serious power. The wind is light and cross-shore in the morning, which would be clean. However, the data says it’s “too big for this break.” For a river mouth, 8 ft is a lot of water moving around, and it’s going to be a washing machine. This is strictly for experts only. Beginners, stay well clear. The period is short, so it won’t be the most beautiful shape, but it will have power.

The end of the month, from Thursday the 27th to Saturday the 29th, sees the swell settle back down to 4 ft to 6 ft from the NW, with periods dropping to 8 to 9 seconds. The wind stays mostly cross or cross-onshore, and the energy is moderate (336 to 611). It’s a marginal call at best.

So, the bottom line: aside from a few marginal days, the only real event is the big pulse on the 26th. If you’re an expert looking for a challenge, that’s your window. For everyone else, it’s a long wait for something that might not even be worth it.

Rusty.

Read more