Rhino Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, mate, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for our local stretch.

We’re kicking off with a bit of a slow start, but the forecast is building toward something special. The water temperature is sitting at 59°F, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real call to get wet comes on Tuesday morning, August 4th, at Rhino Head. It’s a sheltered reef, beginner-friendly, and fairly consistent. We’ve got a 4ft SW groundswell with a solid 12-second period, and a light cross-offshore breeze. The combined energy is moderate (543), and the waves are clean. Not a standout, but a nice, easy intro to the week.

Tuesday afternoon gets even cleaner – 3ft SW swell, 14-second period, glassy cross-off breeze, and wave energy sitting at 401. Still a nice, mellow session.

Wednesday looks smaller. Morning has 2ft SSW swell, but the period is a very long 19 seconds – that’s groundswell territory, and it’ll be breaking pretty straight at the reef. The wind is cross-off, but the conditions are just ordinary. Afternoon is similar with 2ft SSW. Not a write-off, but nothing to get excited about.

Thursday morning sees a 3ft SW swell with a 16-second period, but the wind is cross-shore, putting some ripples on the surface. The afternoon is cleaner – 4ft SW, 16 seconds, cross-off breeze, and wave energy up to 616. That’s a better window.

Now, Friday morning, August 7th, is where things start to ramp up. We’ve got 6ft SW swell, 15-second period, and a clean cross-off breeze. The combined energy jumps to 1359 – that’s moderate to strong. The waves are there, but the conditions are a bit marginal. Still, it’s a step up in size.

Saturday and Sunday, August 8th and 9th, are a write-off – strong winds (22 to 34 mph) and poor conditions. The swell is there, but the wind is a mess. Saturday has 5ft SW, Sunday jumps to 8ft SW, but the wind is howling. Not worth paddling out.

Then, Monday, August 10th, is the real standout. Morning sees 10ft SW groundswell, 16-second period, and a clean offshore wind – moderate breeze, but offshore. The wave energy is pumping at 4261. This is excellent surf, but it’s big – only for experienced surfers. The afternoon drops to 8ft, still offshore, but the wind picks up a bit.

Tuesday, August 11th, gets even bigger – 12ft SW swell, but the wind is near gale force (34 mph). The energy is massive (4956 to 5720), but paddling in is a battle. Only for the die-hards.

Wednesday, August 12th, holds 10ft SW swell, with cross-off winds and energy up to 7334. Still big, but the wind is a bit more manageable. Still experts only.

Thursday, August 13th, is another gem. 8ft SSW swell, 16-17 second period, and a gentle offshore wind. The wave energy is 3798 to 3336, and conditions are excellent. This is a prime window for experienced surfers – clean, powerful, and offshore.

Friday, August 14th, is also excellent. 7ft SW swell in the morning, 6ft in the afternoon, both with light offshore or cross-off winds. Energy is around 2256 to 2154. Clean, consistent, and very good.

Saturday, August 15th, is still good – 6ft SSW in the morning, 5ft SW in the afternoon, with gentle cross-off breezes. Energy around 1517 to 1046. Very good conditions.

From Sunday, August 16th, onward, the swell drops back to 3ft to 4ft, periods are moderate, and the wind is cross-off. The energy drops below 1000. It’s surfable, but marginal. The run of excellent surf is over, but there’s still a few fun waves to be had.

So, the best of the lot? Monday, August 10th, for the big, clean, offshore swell – but it’s a big boy session. Thursday, August 13th, is almost as good, with a bit less size and cleaner offshore wind. Friday, August 14th, is also a great option. If you’re after something smaller, Tuesday and Thursday of the first week are your best bets.

Rusty out.

Read more