Surf Forecasts:
38 Line surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period, ENE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period, NE swell with 144 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at 38 Line in the next 16 days are 1.3m 7s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (KST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for 38 Line over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto, it’s Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this 38 Line stretch is looking like a waiting game for the most part. We’ve got a long stretch of poor surf ahead before things finally turn on, but when they do, it’s got some real teeth.
The Long Wait
For the first week, from Saturday the 22nd to Sunday the 30th of August, it’s a dead loss. We’re talking flat, tiny surf with swell heights barely pushing 1ft, and the energy readings are in the dumps – mostly under 25. There’s a little bump of northeast wind-swell on Thursday the 27th, but it’s short-period junk at 7 seconds and cross-onshore, which does nothing but mess up the surface. The morning of Sunday the 30th has a slight cross-on breeze, though things clean up in the afternoon with a gentle offshore and some small waves, but it’s still not rideable. It’s a full week of nothing, which is a long time to be staring at the ocean.
The First Sign of Life
Monday the 31st of August rolls around, and we finally see a pulse. The morning brings in 3ft of northeast swell with an 8-second period. It’s nothing to write home about, and the combined energy is still weak at 94, and the conditions are just “ordinary”, but at least it’s glassy. After a week of nothing, this feels like progress. The wave quality is still poor, but it’s a start.
A Glimpse of Better Things
The energy starts to build on Tuesday the 1st of September. The morning brings a cleaner 4ft of east-northeast swell, and we see the energy jump up to 201 – that’s moderate power finally showing its face. The wind is a light cross-offshore, which should keep things tidy at this exposed spot (Thirty-eight-line). It’s not perfect, but it’s the best-looking surf since the start of the run. Wednesday morning the 2nd has glassy conditions and 3ft of northeast swell, but it’s not quite as clean. There’s still plenty of ordinary days in there, but you can see the gears starting to turn.
The Big One – Handle With Care
Now, let’s talk about Thursday the 3rd of September through to Saturday the 5th. This is where things get serious. The swell is set to jack up in a hurry. Thursday morning pushes 10ft of northeast swell, and the energy readings are massive – 972. By Thursday afternoon it’s up to 12ft, and Friday the 4th is a monster. We’re looking at a 20ft swell with a very long 12-second period, and the energy is reading at 10663 – that’s not a swell, that’s a freight train. There’s also a 15ft on Friday afternoon. To be clear, this is way too big for this break. It’s only for the most experienced chargers out there, and even then, it’s a risk. The short period of your standard beach break is gone, this is a serious groundswell.
The Payoff
After the beast passes, we get the real window. Saturday the 5th of September is your standout. The morning brings 8ft of north-northeast swell, still with a solid 11-second period. The energy is strong at 1474, but the sizes are back to a manageable level. The wind is light and cross-offshore, making for clean conditions. This is the one to point your board at. It’s going to be powerful, but it’s rideable, and it’s going to be the best quality surf of the whole period. Sunday the 6th settles down a bit, with 4ft of northeast swell and light cross-off winds, but it’s the previous morning that you want to be out for.
The first week is a write-off, so save your energy. But that weekend of the 5th and 6th of September looks like the pay-off. Get on it.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Sat morning. Warm (max 30°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Wed afternoon. Warm (max 28°C on Mon night, min 23°C on Wed afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 3 | NE 11 | NE 10 | NE 9 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | SE 4 | ESE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | NNW 4 | — | — | — | N 3 | N 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
1 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 76 | 105 | 93 | 107 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | off | cross-on | on | glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 9:15AM0.28m | 10:25AM0.29m | 3:19AM0.23m | 3:14AM0.23m | 12:24PM0.31m | 3:22AM0.23m | 1:10PM0.31m | 3:35AM0.23m | 1:53PM0.32m | ||||||||||
Low Tide | 6:08PM0.10m | 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 | |||||||||
— | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | |
7:10 | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:06 | — | — | 7:04 | — | — | 7:02 | — | |
mm | 3 | 11 | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | 11 | 6 | 3 | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 23 |
Feels °C | 27 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 26 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 11 | NE 10 | ESE 3 | ESE 4 | NE 7 | SE 4 | ESE 4 | — | NW 4 | NNW 4 | — | — | — | NE 11 | NE 9 | NE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 6 |
— | 5 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | 5 | 3 | 105 | 93 | 107 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | NE 9 | NE 8 | — | N 6 | — | — | SE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 |
— | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 7 | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 3 | — | — | — | — | ESE 4 | — | — | SE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | N 3 | N 6 | NNW 4 | N 4 | — |
1 | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 76 | 12 | 9 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 582 | 582 | 707 | 582 | 582 | 707 | 319 | 582 | 569 | 569 | 569 | 569 | 569 | 925 | 707 | 694 | 694 | 668 | 513 |
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.











