Rainbow Rocks Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's coming our way.

Honestly, the next couple of weeks are a bit of a mixed bag for Rainbow Rocks. We’ve got a solid stretch of reasonably sized NW swell rolling in, but the wind is mostly going to be a problem. It’s a beach and reef setup, and it’s exposed to the swell, but there’s a real lack of that clean, glassy moment we’re all chasing. The water’s sitting at 56°, which is pretty much average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first few days are a write-off for a decent surf. Saturday the 1st starts with a 4ft NW swell (301 energy) but with a cross wind, it’s just messy. That afternoon jumps to 8ft, but the wind is cross-off and fresh, so it’s clean but the quality is a bit meh. This pattern basically holds through the weekend and into Monday, with swell swinging between 7ft and 12ft, and winds staying cross-off but on the stronger side. The wave energy is moderate to strong (up to 1840 on Monday afternoon), but the conditions never really click for a great session.

We get a bit of a reprieve on Wednesday the 5th. The swell drops to 7ft in the morning, but the wind turns light. The afternoon is where it’s at though – 12ft of NW swell, light cross-off breeze, and the energy is pumping (1574). That’s the standout of the first week. It’s big, it’s clean, and the waves will have some punch. For experienced surfers only at that size, okay? Beginners, stay on the sand.

After that, it’s a repeating pattern of moderate to strong NW swell with cross-off winds, but nothing quite as special as that Wednesday arvo. The wind stays fresh, the swell stays solid, but the quality just doesn’t hit that same high note. By the second weekend, the swell backs off a touch, but the wind is still muscle.

Around the 13th of August, we see a complete change. The NW swell dies right down, and we get a very long-period SSW groundswell sneaking in. The swell is tiny – 2ft to 4ft – but with periods of 16 to 19 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell, and it’ll wrap in with some long lines. The energy is still moderate (644 to 1096), but the wind is howling out of the NNW, 22 to 31 mph. That’s too strong for a clean surf, and for a beach and reef setup, it’s going to be blown out. This looks more like a kite-surfing window than a paddle-surfing one.

The 16th sees the swell settle at 3ft from the SSW, but with a cross wind, it’s not worth getting excited about.

So, the one true standout? It’s Wednesday afternoon, the 5th of August. 12ft of NW swell, light cross-off wind, and a heap of energy. That’s your window. For the rest, it’s a case of waiting for the wind to drop or the swell to get a better angle.

Rusty.

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