38 Line Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.00° N 128.73° E

38 Line Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 8 am 04 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's 38 Line sea temperature is
25.4°C
2.2° 

38 Line surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


38 Line surf forecast from 4 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 7 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 8s period, ENE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 9 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 8s period, NE swell with 645 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 7 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 8s 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 Monday (Sep 07) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 8s period. 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 2.3m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 5s period and expected on Monday (Sep 07) at 3PM.

Wave TypeTime (KST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9PM (Mon 7th Sep)5ft (1.5m) 8s
Best Surf 9PM (Mon 7th Sep)5ft (1.5m) 8s
Most Powerful 9AM (Wed 9th Sep)7.5ft (2.3m) 8s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for 38 Line over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Right, so 38 Line is the only game in town on the South Coast according to this, and I’ve gotta be straight with you—this forecast is a tough one for a paddler. There’s a whole heap of days where the conditions just aren’t coming together, and you’ll be looking at a lot of poor surf and messy wind.

Now, the water’s sitting at 78°F with a 4°F positive anomaly, making it much warmer than usual for early September. That’s a nice surprise if you’re in the water, but it doesn’t make up for the lack of quality.

The first real flicker of something surfable doesn’t show up until Tuesday the 8th. That morning glass-off has a clean-looking 4ft swell from the ENE with a period of 8 seconds and moderate wave energy (211), offering fair shape with light cross-off winds. Honestly, that Tuesday morning slot is your best bet across the whole 16 days—clean conditions, a little bit of energy. Even the afternoon drops off with a marginal state.

Then we hit Wednesday the 9th, and the swell jumps up to 8ft from the NE, with strong energy (732). But the wind swings cross-on and there’s serious chop. That one’s a handful—only for experienced surfers, and even then it won’t be pretty.

After that, it’s mostly a dry spell. From Thursday the 10th right through to Sunday the 13th, the swell drops below 3ft, period is weak at 5-6 seconds, and you’re getting onshore breezes or rain. There’s a gap of several days with nothing worth chasing.

We get a tiny pulse of glassy conditions on Wednesday the 16th, with a 3ft, 7-second swell from the east and light variable wind—score 1/10, "ordinary conditions." It’s a might-go, might-not-be-worth-it kind of deal.

So here’s the call: if you want to paddle, your window is narrow. Tuesday the 8th, morning only. That’s the highlight. The rest of the period either has consistent onshores, small weak lumps, or blown-out conditions that look more interesting for a kite than a surfboard.

Stay tuned, though—these forecasts can flip.

- Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Sat morning. Warm (max 24°C on Fri morning, min 21°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 23°C on Mon morning, min 18°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
4
Saturday
5
Sunday
6
Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
NE
6
0.8
ENE
6
0.9
ENE
5
1.1
NE
6
1.1
NE
6
1.3
ENE
6
1.4
ENE
7
1.2
E
7
1.6
ENE
7
1.6
ENE
7
1.5
ENE
7
1.4
ENE
8
1.2
ENE
8
1
E
8
1.4
ENE
8
2.3
NE
8
1.5
NE
8
1.2
NNE
7
0.9
NE
6
0.9
ENE
6
0.9
ESE
6
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
42
54
44
83
69
108
175
142
284
259
237
214
165
120
277
645
262
127
56
59
62
Wind (km/h)
10
ENE
15
ENE
15
NE
20
NE
20
NE
20
NE
20
ENE
20
NE
15
N
20
N
20
N
15
WNW
10
NNW
10
N
15
E
25
NNE
10
N
15
NE
15
ENE
10
E
10
SSE
Wind State
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
on
on
cross
High Tide
7:53AM0.30m
9:12AM0.31m
2:27AM0.23m
10:36AM0.31m
2:31AM0.24m
11:51AM0.32m
2:48AM0.24m
12:55PM0.33m
3:07AM0.24m
1:52PM0.32m
Low Tide
3:06PM0.08m
4:36PM0.07m
5:51PM0.05m
4:28AM0.23m
6:52PM0.03m
5:56AM0.21m
7:41PM0.03m
6:57AM0.19m
8:24PM0.03m
7:50AM0.16m
9:01PM0.04m
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
mod rain
light rain
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:56
5:56
5:58
5:58
5:58
6:00
6:01
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:51
6:50
6:47
6:46
6:45
6:43
6:42
 mm
1
2
4
2
1
10
5
5
Temp °C
24
24
22
23
23
23
23
23
22
23
23
20
22
23
22
19
20
20
21
21
21
Feels °C
24
23
21
21
22
22
21
21
20
20
20
19
22
23
23
17
19
18
18
19
20
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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