Oregon
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Cape Lookout, Oregon. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sat, May 16: 3–4ft, 13s period, rated Poor. Skip the dawn patrol — 3-4ft and poor early on. Afternoon shapes up better with 3-4ft and poor - fair conditions.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 12s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on WNW swell at 12s with 8mph ENE winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 16mph from the N and dropping conditions to poor.
Mon, May 18: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on WNW swell at 10s and barely a breath of wind. Onshore flow builds through the day to 13mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Tue, May 19: 3–4ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on WNW swell at 14s and glassy conditions. The NW wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor - fair by then.
Wed, May 20: 2–3ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on WNW swell at 12s with calm winds. The NW wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor - fair by then.
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Cape Lookout is a dynamic beach break located on Oregon's dramatic northern coast, where consistent Pacific swells wrap around the cape's headland to create quality waves across a sandy bottom. The ESE-facing break picks up west and northwest swell particularly well during fall and winter months, offering both lined-up peaks and fun shoulder sections depending on the tide and swell direction. The beach offers good accessibility and a mix of conditions, making it a solid spot for intermediate surfers looking to escape the crowds while enjoying Oregon's rugged coastal scenery.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Cape Lookout is 3-4ft with a 8.05s swell period. Wind is NW at 19mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Cape Lookout is 3-4ft, produced by a 3.3ft WNW primary swell at 13s, a 0.7ft SW secondary swell at 15s, a 6.5ft W wind swell swell at 8s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Cape Lookout is Tuesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 14.3s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Cape Lookout works best with a W swell and E winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Cape Lookout. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Cape Lookout is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Cape Lookout is a dynamic beach break located on Oregon's dramatic northern coast, where consistent Pacific swells wrap around the cape's headland to create quality waves across a sandy bottom. The ESE-facing break picks up west and northwest swell particularly well during fall and winter months, offering both lined-up peaks and fun shoulder sections depending on the tide and swell direction. The beach offers good accessibility and a mix of conditions, making it a solid spot for intermediate surfers looking to escape the crowds while enjoying Oregon's rugged coastal scenery.
The prime season at Cape Lookout is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Cape Lookout include strong currents around the cape, rocks at the northern headland, cold water temperatures, powerful winter swells can be heavy. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Cape Lookout forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable. Extended forecasts show general trends. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
