Oregon
Best window·Tuesday 10AM–1PM·5ft·Fair
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 5–6ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 5-6ft waves and poor - fair conditions with calm winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 9mph.
Wed, Jul 1: 4–5ft, 9s period, rated Fair. The sweet spot is around midday — 4-5ft waves, light winds out of the NNW, fair conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Thu, Jul 2: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 2-3ft and poor - fair with barely a breath of wind.
Fri, Jul 3: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 2ft and poor - fair with calm winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 7mph.
Sat, Jul 4: 2–3ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on WNW swell at 8s with barely a breath of wind. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and poor - fair by then.
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 4-5ft with a 9.05s swell period. Wind is NNW at 10mph and conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Cape Lookout is 4-5ft, produced by a 5.6ft WNW primary swell at 9s, a 0.7ft SW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.3ft WSW tertiary swell at 20s. 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 10 AM to 1 PM with 5ft waves, a 9.05s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
