Taft (Siltetz River) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's talk about what's on the cards for the Siltetz River mouth at Taft.

We've got a mixed bag coming up, with no classic clean swell in sight. The water temp is sitting about average for this time of year, which is fine, nothing unusual. The whole 16-day window is a bit of a grind for quality surf, but there are a couple of times where it might just be worth a look if you're desperate.

The best chance for a wave that's not a total chore will be Saturday, July 18th. Through the morning we've got a 5ft swell from the NW with a short, snappy 10-second period, and the wave energy is moderate (846). It's not perfect, with a light cross-onshore wind messing it up a bit, but it's the best we see. By the afternoon, the swell pushes up to 5ft from the NW, the period drops to 9 seconds, and the wind goes full cross-shore at 12 mph, which will chop it up. The wave energy climbs into the strong range (1064), but the quality is not there for a paddle surfer. Honestly, with that wind, a kite surfer would have a better time than we would.

Then, jumping way ahead to Saturday, July 25th. The morning looks like a repeat of that earlier pattern – a 5ft NW swell, short period, light cross-onshore wind. It's marginal. But later in the afternoon, there's a weird shift: a very long-period 21-second groundswell from the SW at 3ft. The wave energy is still solid (885). Long-period swells like that can wrap around and line up nicely at a river mouth, so it's promising, but the onshore wind will kill any real quality. It's a long-range call, so don't bank on it.

Otherwise, the rest of the period is a lot of nothing. From the 21st right through to nearly the end of July, we're stuck in a pattern of weak, short-period NW windswell and persistent cross to cross-onshore breezes. The wave energy stays moderate, but the conditions are just too messy for decent paddle surfing. Honestly, for most of this run, you're better off leaving the boards in the car. The gear will be better suited for kiting than surfing, especially when the wind pipes up.

Keep your eyes on that Saturday July 18th afternoon if you want to get wet, and maybe that last weekend for a long-shot. Otherwise, it's a blank spell for the area.

Rusty.

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