Oregon
The sweet spot is around midday — 7-8ft waves, gentle NE breeze, good conditions.
The sweet spot is around midday — 7-8ft waves, gentle NE breeze, good conditions.
Best window·Thursday 11AM–2PM·7-8ft·Good
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 7–8ft, 11s period, rated Good. Midday is the call — 7-8ft waves with gentle NE breeze and good conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning. Don't wait too long — the wind comes back up after lunch.
Fri, Sep 4: 4–5ft, 10s period, rated Fair - Good. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on W swell at 10s with 8mph ESE winds. Size drops off to 2-3+ft by the afternoon.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on WNW swell at 9s with light winds out of the E. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 9mph from the NNW and dropping conditions to poor.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on NW swell at 8s with light winds out of the ENE. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on NW swell at 8s with light ESE winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
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Check Cape Lookout from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 7-8ft with a 10.9s swell period. Wind is NNE at 3mph. Conditions are rated Good. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Cape Lookout is 7-8ft, produced by a 9.7ft WNW primary swell at 11s, a 5.8ft SSW wind swell swell at 6s, a 1.2ft SW tertiary swell at 17s, a 1.2ft SSW tertiary swell at 13s, a 1.1ft NW tertiary swell at 13s. 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 Thursday from 11 AM to 2 PM with 7ft waves, a 10.8s swell period, and conditions rated 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. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
