Surf Forecasts:
38 Line surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 6s period, NE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 7s period, ENE swell with 153 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 6s period with NE 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 Saturday (Aug 29) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m 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 1.2m 7s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (KST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for 38 Line over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's ride this wave of data for 38 Line.
Look, I gotta be straight with you. The next week and a half is a tough stretch for 38 Line. We've got a lot of tiny, weak swell and dicey conditions. The water's cooking though, running at a balmy 79°F which is a full 4°F warmer than normal for this time of year – feels like a bath out there. But that's about the only positive.
The real issue is the wave energy. For days on end, the combined energy reading is barely a whisper, stuck on single digits like a 1 or a 2. That's just nothing. We're looking at knee-high dribble at best, with periods around 4 to 6 seconds. You'd be fighting for scraps. Even when the wind goes glassy, like on the morning of Thursday the 27th, the swell is just too pathetic to get excited about. There's a bit of a pulse trying to show late on Saturday the 29th, when the energy bumps up to 111 and the period stretches to 6 seconds – maybe a few waist-high closeouts on offer, but the winds are light and variable so it might be messy.
As we roll into the first few days of September, it's more of the same: cross-onshore breezes and minimal swell. The energy is still low, rarely cracking the 20s or 30s. This is a real flat spell. Then, things take a turn, but not a good one for a paddler.
By Friday the 4th of September, we get a massive spike in energy. We're talking a combined 705 on Friday afternoon, and then a whopping 1817 on Saturday the 5th. That's strong to very strong wave energy, with swell heights hitting 13ft. But the wind is howling onshore and the conditions are rated "poor surf conditions" with that brutal cross-chop. That kind of size and onshore wind would make 38 Line a washing machine. Honestly, for a paddler, this is a write-off. That setup looks far more interesting for the kite crew than anyone on a surfboard.
After that big blow, the swell crashes back down to nothing by Sunday the 6th. The best I can say is that if you're desperate for a splash on a longboard, the morning of Thursday the 27th of August had a glass-off, but the swell was a measly 2ft. For any proper surfing, there isn't a single standout day in this entire outlook. It’s a long, quiet period broken up by one stormy, unsurfable pulse. For 38 Line, a blank run like this is just how it goes sometimes.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 33°C on Mon morning, min 24°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue afternoon, fresh winds from the N by Wed morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 37mm), heaviest during Sat afternoon. Warm (max 25°C on Thu morning, min 22°C on Sat afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SE 4 | ESE 4 | SE 4 | SSE 4 | N 6 | NE 5 | NNE 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | N 6 | NNE 5 | NE 5 | ENE 5 | E 5 | NE 6 | ENE 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 12 | 18 | 32 | 23 | 11 | 16 | 18 | 6 | 14 | 25 | 99 | 153 | 98 | 104 | 52 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 11:30AM0.30m | 3:14AM0.23m | 12:24PM0.31m | 3:22AM0.23m | 1:10PM0.31m | 3:35AM0.23m | 1:53PM0.32m | 3:51AM0.23m | 2:35PM0.31m | 4:08AM0.23m | 3:17PM0.30m | 4:26AM0.24m | 4:02PM0.29m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 9:12AM0.14m | 10:13PM0.06m | 9:54AM0.12m | 10:40PM0.08m | ||||||||
5:47 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | |
— | 7:07 | — | — | 7:06 | — | — | 7:04 | — | — | 7:02 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:59 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 8 | 6 | — | — | — | 3 | — | 2 | 1 | — | 4 | 1 | 13 | 13 | 4 | — | — |
Temp °C | 33 | 33 | 28 | 30 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 25 | 24 |
Feels °C | 36 | 35 | 30 | 34 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 25 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 27 | 28 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 4 | — | — | SSE 4 | SE 4 | NE 5 | NNE 6 | NNE 4 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | N 6 | NNE 5 | NE 5 | ENE 5 | E 5 | ESE 5 | ENE 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 7 |
1 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 7 | 12 | 15 | 32 | 23 | 11 | 16 | 18 | 6 | 12 | 25 | 10 | 153 | 98 | 104 | 52 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SE 4 | — | N 6 | — | NE 8 | NE 7 | NE 8 | ESE 3 | SE 4 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | N 6 | — | NE 9 | E 6 | E 6 | ESE 5 |
— | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 10 | 18 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 41 | 39 | 18 | 5 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 4 | SE 4 | — | — | NE 6 | N 10 | — | S 5 | — | S 7 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | — | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ESE 4 | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | — | SE 3 | — | N 4 | — | — | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | — | NE 6 | WNW 3 | NW 3 | — | — |
— | 1 | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 2 | — | 6 | — | — | 1 | 14 | — | 99 | 1 | 2 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 319 | 707 | 569 | 569 | 707 | 569 | 569 | 569 | 16 | 569 | 706 | 569 | 668 | 707 | 319 | 668 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in South Korea | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Korea | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.











