Oregon
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Winchester Bay, 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: 6–7ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. The sweet spot is around midday — 6-7ft waves, moderate NNW wind around 12mph, poor - fair conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Sun, May 17: 6–7ft, 13s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 7-8ft waves on WNW swell at 12s with light winds out of the ENE. The N wind kicks in by afternoon — 18mph and poor by then.
Mon, May 18: 5–6ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 5-6ft on W swell at 12s with gentle ENE breeze. Onshore flow builds through the day to 16mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Tue, May 19: 6–7ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 6-7ft on WNW swell at 14s with light ENE winds. The NNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 13mph and poor - fair by then.
Wed, May 20: 6–7ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 6-7ft waves on WNW swell at 12s with gentle ENE breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 14mph from the NNW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
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Winchester Bay is a rivermouth break located on the Oregon coast where the Umpqua River meets the Pacific Ocean, offering sandbars that shift with river flow and tidal influence to produce punchy, hollow waves. The spot faces southeast toward the ocean, picking up Northwest swells that wrap around the river mouth and break over sand formations shaped by the river's outflow. This uncrowded gem rewards patient surfers with quality peaks, especially during fall when Oregon's swell season kicks in and offshore winds are most consistent.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Winchester Bay is 5-7ft with a 13.35s swell period. Wind is NNW at 14mph 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 Winchester Bay is 5-7ft, produced by a 3.7ft WNW primary swell at 13s, a 1.1ft SW secondary swell at 15s, a 6.6ft WNW 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 Winchester Bay is Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 8ft waves, a 11.7s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Winchester Bay works best with a NW swell and NE 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 Winchester Bay. 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.
Winchester Bay is a rivermouth with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Winchester Bay is a rivermouth break located on the Oregon coast where the Umpqua River meets the Pacific Ocean, offering sandbars that shift with river flow and tidal influence to produce punchy, hollow waves. The spot faces southeast toward the ocean, picking up Northwest swells that wrap around the river mouth and break over sand formations shaped by the river's outflow. This uncrowded gem rewards patient surfers with quality peaks, especially during fall when Oregon's swell season kicks in and offshore winds are most consistent.
The prime season at Winchester Bay 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 Winchester Bay include strong currents, rip currents, shifting sandbars, cold water, river outflow, boat traffic, sneaker waves. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Winchester Bay 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.
