Surf Forecasts:
38 Line surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 5s period, ENE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period, ESE swell with 93 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 5s period with ENE 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.8m and 5s is also forecast. 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 6s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 2s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (KST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for 38 Line over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the table for the next couple of weeks at 38 Line.
Right now, we're staring down a long stretch of flat, small, and messy conditions. Honestly, it's a tough start. There's a real gap here with no worthwhile surf to speak of for days. From Sunday the 23rd through the rest of that week, the ocean is basically giving us nothing. You've got tiny 0.3ft to 2ft slop, periods so short they barely count, and the combined energy is weak, barely cracking double digits. It's a write-off.
We finally see a pulse of life kicking in on Friday morning, the 28th of August. Swell pushes up to about 3ft from the ENE, with a period of 5 seconds and a combined energy of 42 – still weak, but at least it's something. The wind is light and cross-offshore, which keeps it clean. It's surfable, but very ordinary. That little trend continues through the weekend of the 29th and into Sunday the 30th, with similar 3ft to 4ft ENE swell. The Sunday morning looks like the pick of that early run: glassy conditions with a light easterly breeze and 4ft of swell, energy hitting 115. It's not going to blow anyone's mind, but for a clean, small-wave cruiser, it might be your best shot in that first week.
Now, let's be real about the standout – if you can call it that. It's not a classic. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no drama there.
The next week turns pretty grim again. Monday the 31st of August through to Saturday the 5th of September is a mess of onshore and cross-onshore winds, with swell sizes hovering around 2ft to 5ft. It's mostly poor quality. There's a brief moment on Tuesday morning, the 1st of September, with glassy conditions and a small 2ft ENE swell, but it's tiny.
The real spike comes on Sunday the 6th and Monday the 7th of September. We see a big jump in swell height to 7ft from the ENE, with a combined energy hitting 869 on Sunday morning and 547 in the afternoon – that's moderate to strong energy. But here's the kicker: the wind is a strong cross-onshore, even onshore, with heavy rain and gusty conditions up to 28 mph. That's a hard pass for surfing. That kind of wind and chop will make it a messy, blown-out wall. For a beach break like 38 Line, this setup looks far more interesting for the kite surfers than for anyone on a paddle board. The swell is also pushing 7ft, which is really only for experts, but with those winds, even experts will struggle.
So, to sum it up: we've got a long flat start, a brief, average window around the 29th-30th of August with clean but small surf, and then a messy, windy pulse of bigger swell in the second week that's better left to the kite crew. Don't get your hopes up too high for anything epic.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 32°C on Mon morning, min 24°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Wed morning, min 22°C on Fri afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | ||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | SE 3 | ESE 4 | SSE 4 | SE 4 | NNW 4 | — | — | N 3 | N 4 | NE 8 | NE 7 | NE 4 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | ESE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 16 | 11 | 32 | 42 | 53 | 68 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | glassy | cross-on | off | off | glassy | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:25AM0.29m | 3:19AM0.23m | 3:14AM0.23m | 12:24PM0.31m | 3:22AM0.23m | 1:10PM0.31m | 3:35AM0.23m | 1:53PM0.32m | 3:51AM0.23m | 2:35PM0.31m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 6:57PM0.08m | 5:32AM0.23m | 7:38PM0.07m | 6:31AM0.22m | 8:14PM0.06m | 7:14AM0.20m | 8:47PM0.05m | 7:53AM0.18m | 9:17PM0.04m | 8:32AM0.16m | 9:46PM0.05m | ||||||||
— | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | |
7:09 | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:06 | — | — | 7:04 | — | — | 7:02 | — | — | 7:00 | — | |
mm | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 32 | 32 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 27 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 22 |
Feels °C | 28 | 31 | 30 | 33 | 35 | 36 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 35 | 32 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ESE 4 | NE 7 | SE 3 | ESE 4 | SE 4 | NNW 3 | — | — | — | N 3 | N 4 | NE 8 | NE 7 | — | ENE 5 | — | ESE 6 | ESE 7 |
— | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 9 | 16 | — | 32 | — | 44 | 68 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | NE 8 | — | N 6 | — | — | SE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | E 3 | ESE 4 | S 6 | S 6 | — | ESE 6 | NE 5 |
3 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 44 | 14 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 4 | — | — | — | — | NE 9 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ESE 4 | SE 3 | WSW 2 | SSE 4 | — | NNW 4 | — | — | NNW 3 | ESE 3 | ENE 3 | NE 4 | NE 4 | NE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | — |
— | — | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 31 | 42 | 53 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 582 | 582 | 707 | 319 | 582 | 707 | 569 | 569 | 569 | 569 | 569 | 569 | 319 | 582 | 707 | 0 | 0 | 707 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Korea | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Korea | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.











