Oregon
Get out early for the best of it — 4-6ft waves on WNW swell at 11s and strong S wind at 18mph.
Get out early for the best of it — 4-6ft waves on WNW swell at 11s and strong S wind at 18mph.
Best window·Friday 6AM–9AM·4-5ft·Fair - Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Lincoln City, 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: 6–7ft, 11s period, rated Poor. The sweet spot is around midday — 4-6ft waves, 21mph out of the S, poor conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Fri, Sep 4: 4–5ft, 10s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 4-5ft waves on W swell at 10s and light ENE winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the NNW and dropping conditions to very poor.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on WNW swell at 9s with barely a breath of wind. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the NW and dropping conditions to very poor.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on WNW swell at 9s and barely a breath of wind. Onshore flow builds through the day to 8mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Mon, Sep 7: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with light winds out of the ESE. Afternoon breeze fills in to 8mph.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor today — get one free email when Lincoln City turns Good.
Check Lincoln City from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Lincoln City is a mellow beach break nestled along the central Oregon coast, where the broad sandy shoreline receives consistent northwest swells rolling in from the Pacific. The waves here tend to be forgiving and mushy, making it a welcoming spot for beginners and longboarders, though fall swells can push the surf into more punchy intermediate territory. Oregon's rugged coastal scenery, cool waters, and uncrowded lineup give Lincoln City a raw, exploratory feel that rewards those willing to suit up in a thick wetsuit.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Lincoln City is 4-6ft with a 10.8s swell period. Wind is S at 27mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Lincoln City is 4-6ft, produced by a 9.5ft WNW primary swell at 11s, a 5.9ft SSW wind swell swell at 6s, a 1.2ft SW tertiary swell at 12s, a 1ft SW tertiary swell at 17s, 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 Lincoln City is Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 9.7s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Lincoln City works best with a NW 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 Lincoln City. 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.
Lincoln City is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Lincoln City is a mellow beach break nestled along the central Oregon coast, where the broad sandy shoreline receives consistent northwest swells rolling in from the Pacific. The waves here tend to be forgiving and mushy, making it a welcoming spot for beginners and longboarders, though fall swells can push the surf into more punchy intermediate territory. Oregon's rugged coastal scenery, cool waters, and uncrowded lineup give Lincoln City a raw, exploratory feel that rewards those willing to suit up in a thick wetsuit.
The prime season at Lincoln City 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 Lincoln City include cold water, strong currents, sneaker waves, rip currents, hypothermia risk. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Lincoln City 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).
