Taft (Siltetz River) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Hey folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – the next couple of weeks at Taft (Siltetz River) are looking pretty grim for a proper paddle. The wind is almost always coming from the north or north-northwest, keeping it cross-shore or cross-onshore, which means a lot of chop and messy conditions. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so nothing weird there.

We kick off Monday, August 3rd, with a 5 ft swell from the northwest at 8 seconds, but it’s just poor surf. The wind is a cross-shore 9 mph, creating a slight cross-chop, and the wave energy is weak (313). Tuesday morning, August 4th, is marginal at best with 5 ft NW swell, but the cross-shore breeze keeps it from cleaning up. We’ve got a long stretch of mediocrity here – from Monday through to the end of the first week, it’s a whole lot of “poor” or “marginal” with scores that don’t get off the ground. The period is short, under 8 seconds, so the waves are just lumpy and weak.

Now, there’s a bit of a pulse around Tuesday, August 11th. The afternoon shows a 7 ft swell from the northwest with an 8-second period, and the combined energy bumps up to 716 (moderate). But here’s the kicker – the wave comment says it’s too big for this river break. That’s a 7 ft swell, which is getting into the expert-only zone, especially for a river mouth. The wind is still cross-shore (16 mph), so it’s not clean either. That same “too big” call shows up again on Wednesday, August 12th morning (7 ft, 693 energy), and then again on Friday, August 14th, where the swell hits 7 ft with 1024 energy (strong). That Friday afternoon is the biggest energy of the whole forecast, but again, it’s too big for Taft, and the wind is cross-onshore. Not a paddle-friendly picture.

The highlight? Honestly, there isn’t a standout day for a surfer. The best you could hope for is a marginal session on Monday, August 10th afternoon, when the 7 ft NW swell has 9-second period and 683 energy, but the wind is still cross-shore at 16 mph. It’s a “maybe” if you’re desperate. By Sunday, August 16th, the swell drops to 4 ft, and the light cross-onshore wind (6 mph) is the most manageable wind we’ve seen, but the energy is still weak (526). The very end of the run, Monday, August 17th, brings a tiny 2 ft long-period groundswell (16 seconds) from the west, but that’s a whisper of swell, and the wind is cross-on. For a river break, that long-period swell might not wrap in well.

Overall, this is a tough stretch. The wind is persistently messy, and when the swell gets any size, it’s too much for the river. I’d say the setup here looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing on most days, especially when the wind is up and the waves are choppy. Blank runs like this happen in this area, so don’t get too down – forecasts can change. But for now, I’d keep the board in the car and look for another day.

Rusty.

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