Lincoln City - surf spot statistics

Lincoln City, Oregon, offers varied surf conditions throughout the year, with the best months for surfers typically falling within the late autumn, winter, and early spring periods. From November through February, the swell quality is most consistent, with ground swell percentages peaking between 41-57%, delivering the most reliable waves. December and January stand out as prime months, with mean swell sizes around 1.6m and relatively high ground swell influence (52-57%). Wind conditions, however, remain challenging, with bad onshore winds occurring 81-82% of the time during these months, requiring patience for favorable offshore or cross-shore winds. March sees a slight drop in ground swell (42%) but maintains decent size (1.4m), while October offers a transitional improvement with 32% ground swell and slightly better wind stats (18% good conditions). Spring and summer (May-August) are the least favorable, with weak swells (0.7-0.9m), dominant wind swell, and consistently poor wind conditions (90%+ bad winds). September marks the beginning of the return to better surf, bridging the gap to the winter season. For committed surfers, the winter months provide the most powerful and consistent waves despite the frequent poor winds, while those seeking smaller, more forgiving conditions might find late autumn or early spring more suitable.

February at Lincoln City offers decent surf conditions with an average swell height of 1.4m and a solid period of 13.2s, ensuring good energy and rideable waves. The swell direction is predominantly from the west to northwest, with the largest contribution coming from WNW (16.5% at 0–0.5m, 7.1% at 0.5–1m) and W (10.7% at 0–0.5m, 6.4% at 0.5–1m), providing consistent, medium-sized waves. Larger swells (1.5m+) are less frequent but occur often enough from W and WNW to keep advanced surfers interested. Wind conditions are less ideal, with only 18% of the time being optimal for surfing. Offshore winds are rare, while onshore or cross-shore winds from the south and southwest can create choppier conditions, especially at higher speeds (20–50kph). S and SSW winds in particular bring stronger gusts, reducing wave quality. Overall, February delivers surfable waves with good period and size, but wind interference is common—best sessions will be opportunistic, targeting early morning or days with lighter winds.