Surf Forecasts:
38 Line surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 0.5ft (0.1m), 11s period, NE swell with 5 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for 38 Line this week:
The most powerful waves expected at 38 Line in the next 16 days are 0.1m 11s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (KST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 0.5ft (0.1m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for 38 Line over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the table for the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I gotta be honest with you – this is a pretty grim stretch for 38 Line. The whole first week and a half is basically a write-off. We're looking at a long, dry spell from now until the 29th of August. Tiny, weak swells, mostly under 1 ft, with periods barely breaking 5 seconds. The energy is practically non-existent, with combined energy values sitting at single digits or low teens. It's flat, plain and simple. The water temp is a nice 77°, which is pretty standard for this time of year, nothing unusual there.
The first real glimmer of hope finally shows up on the morning of Saturday the 29th. We get a 4 ft swell from the NE, with an 8-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 205. The wind is glassy from the east, which is a game-changer – it'll be glassy clean. The forecast only gives it a "2" for quality, but that's the best we've seen in a long time. It's a small window of opportunity for a few fun, clean waves.
Then things get a bit wild. On Sunday the 30th, the swell explodes. A massive 13 ft SE groundswell, with an 8-second period, is forecast for the morning. The combined energy is a whopping 1637. But here's the catch – the guidance says the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. That's expert territory, and even then, it's going to be a beast. The wind is offshore from the NW, so it'll be clean, but it's a serious, serious session. The afternoon drops to 8 ft from the SE, with a 10-second period, which is still a heavy wave for experienced surfers only. The energy is still massive at 1560.
After that, the end of the run is brutal. From the 31st of August right through to the 3rd of September, we're back to tiny, weak swells and poor conditions. It's a real bummer way to end the outlook.
So, the standout here is the window on the morning of the 29th for a clean, glassy, small-wave session. The only other option is the big, powerful, and potentially dangerous swell on the 30th, which is for experts only. For the rest of us, it's just a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 28°C on Wed afternoon, min 24°C on Thu afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sat afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Mon morning, min 24°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | ||||||||||||||
PM | 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) | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | SSE 5 | — | — | — | — | E 5 | NE 11 | NE 9 | ESE 3 | ESE 3 | ESE 3 | SE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | SE 3 | SE 4 | SE 4 | NNW 3 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-off | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy |
High Tide | 8:43PM0.19m | 7:28AM0.27m | 8:17AM0.28m | 9:15AM0.28m | 10:25AM0.29m | 3:19AM0.23m | 3:14AM0.23m | 12:24PM0.31m | ||||||||||||
Low Tide | 00:18AM0.18m | 3:45PM0.11m | 5:04PM0.11m | 6:08PM0.10m | 6:57PM0.08m | 5:32AM0.23m | 7:38PM0.07m | 6:31AM0.22m | 8:14PM0.06m | |||||||||||
 |  |  | | | |  |  | |  |  | |  |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — |
 | 7:14 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:10 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:06 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 |
Temp °C | 28 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 23 |
Feels °C | 31 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 34 | 32 | 31 | 27 | 28 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | SSE 5 | — | — | — | — | E 5 | E 4 | NE 9 | NE 8 | ESE 3 | NE 6 | SE 4 | ESE 4 | — | SE 3 | SE 4 | SE 4 | — |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 5 | SE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 11 | — | NE 8 | NE 7 | — | NE 6 | NE 5 | — | — | — | NW 4 | — |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | 3 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 2 | — | ESE 4 | ESE 3 | — | ESE 3 | — | — | ESE 4 | — | — | — | NNW 3 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 707 | 668 | 668 | 712 | 569 | 668 | 707 | 569 | 582 | 707 | 569 | 582 | 707 | 569 | 569 | 569 | 569 | 569 | 569 | 569 |
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.
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