Oregon
Best window·Wednesday 6AM–9AM·3ft·Fair
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 4–5ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 5-6ft waves and poor - fair conditions with barely a breath of wind. Expect the wind to bump up to around 15mph by PM.
Wed, Jul 1: 3–4ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on NW swell at 8s with gentle NE breeze. Onshore flow builds through the day to 14mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Thu, Jul 2: 2–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2ft on NW swell at 8s with light ENE winds. The NNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor by then.
Fri, Jul 3: 2–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Aim for the middle of the day — 1-2ft on WNW swell at 8s with light NNW winds. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down. Afternoon wind picks back up so try to get wet before 2pm.
Sat, Jul 4: 2–2ft, 13s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 2ft on NW swell at 8s with light winds out of the N. The NNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor by then.
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 4-5ft with a 8.95s swell period. Wind is N 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 Winchester Bay is 4-5ft, produced by a 6.4ft NW primary swell at 9s, a 0.9ft SW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.3ft SW 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 Winchester Bay is Wednesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 8.5s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
