Surf Forecasts:
38 Line surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 8s period, NE swell with 25 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 0.4m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 12PM. 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 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (KST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for 38 Line over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty. Let's get into it.
Alright, look, the next couple of weeks at 38 Line are looking pretty flat and sad. There's a whole lot of nothing to start with.
The Overall Picture for 38 Line
We are looking at a long, dry spell right through the end of August. From now until the 30th of August, it's all tiny, weak waves. The combined energy of all swells directed here barely breaks into double digits, and is often below 100 (like a 1 to 14 reading), which is just pure muscle-less. The water temp is sitting at 78°, which is a touch warmer than normal for the time of year. For the first break we mention, that's something to note.
Thursday 20th August to Sunday 30th August: A Flat Spell
This stretch is a write-off for surfing. Expect nothing but tiny, weak, and messy conditions. Mostly cross-onshore or glassy winds, but with swell heights of 0.3 ft to 1.0 ft, it doesn't matter. Even the odd glassy morning with a 0.3 ft from NE on the 23rd won't produce a rideable wave. On the 26th and 27th, we see a little pulse up to 3 ft from the ESE, but the energy is still weak (126), and the wind stays onshore. This is a total gap for quality surf.
Monday 31st August: A Glimmer
After more than a week of flatness, we finally see a morning that might be worth a look. On the morning of Monday the 31st, the wind goes glassy, and we have a 2 ft swell from the NE. The energy is still low (48), but the conditions are clean. The surf report calls it "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions." The combination of a weak swell and a short period (7 seconds) means it's not going to have any punch. It's a knee-high dribbler in the best light. If you are desperate, this is your only window.
The Standout: 4th September (Friday) – A Big, Messy Flop
Into the first week of September, there's a pulse of energy. On Friday the 4th of September, we finally see some size with a 4 ft swell from the ENE in the morning, and 4 ft in the afternoon. The combined energy is moderate, hitting 125 and 162. But here’s the killer: the wind. It’s a moderate cross-shore chop in the morning and a fresh cross-onshore lump (19 mph from the NE) in the afternoon. That’s going to turn it into a complete washing machine. It's also only a 7-second period, so it's choppy, weak, and onshore. For a beach break like 38 Line, this is going to be a mess. It's more of a kite-surfing wind than a paddle-surfing wave. Not a good look at all.
Summary
Honestly, 38 Line is going through a very quiet patch. There is no standout session in this 16-day window. The best you can say is there's one morning on the 31st of August with clean but weak surf. The pulse on the 4th of September has more water moving but comes with strong, bad wind. The rest is just flat. It’s a typical blank run for the area when the swell windows don’t line up.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Warm (max 27°C on Fri afternoon, min 24°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 32°C on Mon morning, min 23°C on Wed afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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 11 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 8 | ESE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | ESE 4 | SSE 3 | NNW 4 | N 3 | — | — | SE 6 | NNE 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | glassy | cross | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-off | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:17AM0.28m | 9:15AM0.28m | 10:25AM0.29m | 3:19AM0.23m | 3:14AM0.23m | 12:24PM0.31m | 3:22AM0.23m | 1:10PM0.31m | |||||||||||
Low Tide | 5:04PM0.11m | 6:08PM0.10m | 6:57PM0.08m | 5:32AM0.23m | 7:38PM0.07m | 6:31AM0.22m | 8:14PM0.06m | 7:14AM0.20m | 8:47PM0.05m | ||||||||||
— | 5:43 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | |
7:13 | — | 7:10 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:06 | — | — | 7:04 | — | |
mm | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 32 | 32 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 22 |
Feels °C | 28 | 28 | 31 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 35 | 35 | 32 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 26 | 26 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | NE 11 | NE 10 | NE 9 | — | NE 7 | SE 4 | SE 4 | ESE 4 | NNW 5 | — | — | — | — | SE 6 | E 4 |
— | — | — | — | 5 | 4 | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 10 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 9 | NE 8 | — | NE 6 | — | — | SSE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 11 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 3 | — | ESE 4 | — | W 3 | N 2 | SSE 3 | NNW 4 | N 3 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 712 | 668 | 668 | 707 | 668 | 668 | 707 | 582 | 582 | 707 | 569 | 569 | 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.











