38 Line Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.00° N 128.73° E

38 Line Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 8 am 17 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's 38 Line sea temperature is
25.0° C
0.6° 

38 Line surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


38 Line surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period, SE swell with 134 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period with SE swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for 38 Line this week:

The surf forecast for 38 Line over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at 38 Line in the next 16 days are 1.1m 7s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 3PM.

Wave TypeTime (KST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9PM (Mon 17th Aug)3.5ft (1.1m) 7s
Best Surf 9PM (Mon 17th Aug)3.5ft (1.1m) 7s
Most Powerful12AM (Tue 18th Aug)3.5ft (1.1m) 7s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for 38 Line over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G’day, it’s Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: the next week and a half is a proper flat spell. We’re looking at a long stretch of tiny, jumbled-up leftovers and no real push. You’d be wasting your time staring at the horizon. Then, finally, right at the back end of the window, things wake up a bit.

Right now, through to the 25th, we’ve got knee-high slop at best, with most days barely registering a wave. There’s a bit of energy on Monday the 17th – maybe 3ft from the southeast – but it’s short-period windswell, bumpy, and basically unsurfable. The wind is light but cross, and it just doesn't line up. The energy is weak, coming in at 60, and it doesn’t get any better. We drift through a real quiet zone – lots of glassy mornings, but with bugger-all for swell. It’s a long, frustrating stretch of nothing. The water’s sitting at about 77°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year.

Then, we finally get a pulse around Thursday the 27th. It’s still small – 3ft – but the direction swings to the northeast, and it’s clean. The winds go light offshore and glassy, and there’s finally a bit of shape to it. The energy jumps to 62, which is still weak, but it’s the first genuine sign of life in over a week. This is your first real chance to get wet, but keep expectations in check – it’s small and clean, not a classic.

The action builds into the weekend and into the new month. Sunday the 30th afternoon is where things get interesting. We see a jump to 5ft, but it’s coming from the northeast with a short, 7-second period, and energy hits 270 – that’s moderate, and there’s actual power behind it. The wind is offshore though, and it’s clean. This is getting closer. Then Monday the 31st keeps that push going with 4-5ft, and Tuesday the 1st of September looks like the pick of the bunch. We’re seeing 4-5ft in the morning, building to 6ft by the afternoon, with a northeast swell and a light offshore breeze. The energy is solid at 306 – moderate but building – and the description is a good one. It’s still a short-period swell, so don't expect a clean, grinding point wave, but this is the most surfable it’s been all fortnight.

The standout is Tuesday afternoon at 38 Line. The swell size is 6ft from the northeast, with light southwesterly offshore winds – that’s clean, glassy conditions. The energy is the strongest of the window, and it’s consistent enough. This is the day to make the call. It’s still a beginner’s call at 6ft – it’s on the edge of being too much for a learner, but for the rest of us, it’s worth it.

So, the plan: sit tight through this dead stretch, and mark the 1st of September in your calendar. It’s a week away, so treat it as promising but not guaranteed. Get out there on the 27th if you’re desperate for a paddle, but the real deal is the 1st.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Mon night. Warm (max 31°C on Wed morning, min 23°C on Mon afternoon). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 70mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 25°C on Thu morning, min 22°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
SE
5
0.8
SSE
5
1.1
SE
7
0.4
SSE
6
0.6
ESE
6
0.3
ESE
5
0.4
SE
6
0.4
SE
5
0.3
SE
5
0.3
SE
5
0.1
SE
4
0.2
NNE
5
0.4
NNE
5
0.4
NE
5
0.2
NNE
5
0.2
SSE
3
0.1
NE
4
0.1
NE
9
0.3
SE
4
0.3
SE
4
0.3
SE
4
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
37
36
134
14
20
5
8
6
3
4
1
2
9
7
2
1
1
3
3
3
3
Wind (km/h)
5
N
10
N
5
WSW
5
SE
10
SSE
15
SW
10
SW
5
SW
15
WSW
5
N
5
NNE
5
W
5
ESE
10
NE
5
SW
15
SE
10
SSE
10
NNW
5
NNE
15
SSE
0
WNW
Wind State
cross
cross
glassy
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross
cross
glassy
glassy
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
glassy
High Tide
6:07PM0.24m
6:24AM0.26m
7:10PM0.21m
6:53AM0.27m
8:43PM0.19m
7:28AM0.27m
8:17AM0.28m
9:15AM0.28m
10:25AM0.29m
Low Tide
12:08PM0.12m
00:08AM0.13m
1:10PM0.12m
00:22AM0.16m
2:22PM0.12m
00:18AM0.18m
3:45PM0.11m
5:04PM0.11m
6:08PM0.10m
6:57PM0.08m
part cloud
thunderstorm
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
part cloud
light rain
heavy rain
mod rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
rain showers
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:41
5:41
5:41
5:43
5:43
5:45
5:46
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:15
7:15
7:14
7:13
7:10
7:09
7:07
 mm
3
7
4
2
11
9
12
32
20
5
Temp °C
24
24
24
27
29
27
31
31
27
25
24
25
24
24
23
23
24
23
23
24
25
Feels °C
27
27
29
30
31
28
33
33
29
27
27
29
26
27
28
26
28
27
27
27
30
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the 38 Line Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for 38 Line provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at 38 Line can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our 38 Line surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (38 Line) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).

Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for 38 Line may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.

38 Line is 18 km (11 miles) from the city of Sokcho. If you plan a holiday in South Korea, look for hotels and other accommodation in Sokcho. Sokcho has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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