Rhino Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let's have a look at the forecast for Rhino Head.

First off, the water temp is sitting at about 59°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The outlook kicks off on Friday, August 7th, but don't get too excited. The morning has a 6ft SW groundswell with a very long 16-second period, and the combined energy is strong (1412). The wind is a cross-off, but it's blowing 15 mph, which is a bit of a pain. It's surfable, but not firing. By Friday afternoon, the wind shifts cross and it gets messy, so that's a write-off.

Saturday, August 8th, the swell drops a touch to 5ft, still with a long period, but the wind is howling from the north at 19 mph in the morning. It's clean, but that wind is a stiff breeze, so it's a lot of work for not much reward. The energy drops into the moderate range (883). Saturday afternoon is a repeat.

Sunday, August 9th, is a weird one. The morning is small and clean but with light rain and a fresh breeze. Then Sunday afternoon gets wild. The wind whips around to the west at 40 mph – that's a gale – and the swell jumps to 12ft with a shorter 11-second period. The energy is very strong (2331), but with that wind, it’s a washing machine. Not for paddling.

Now, Monday, August 10th, is where it starts to look interesting. The morning has a 8ft swell from the SW with a 17-second period, and the energy is absolutely pumping (5639). The wind is a cross-off, but it's still a bit strong. The real standout is Monday afternoon. The wind goes offshore from the WNW at 12 mph, with a 8ft SW swell and a 16-second period. The energy is massive (3788), and the report says it's excellent for experienced surfers. This is your best window in the first week. That long-period groundswell will be lining up nicely on the reef, but it's a big, powerful wave – not for beginners.

Tuesday, August 11th, is a mess. The wind is a strong breeze at 28 mph, and the swell drops right off. Wednesday, August 12th, is even worse; the wind is a near gale at 31 mph, with a 10ft swell. The report says it's hard to paddle into, and I'd agree. It's a kite day, not a surf day.

We get another golden window on Thursday, August 13th, afternoon. The same setup as Monday: offshore wind from the west at 12 mph, a 8ft SW swell with a 16-second period, and very strong energy (3764). Another excellent session for experienced surfers.

Friday, August 14th, is good. The morning has a 6ft swell with a gentle breeze and a score that says "very good". The energy is strong (1532). The wind is a cross-off, but it's light. Saturday, August 15th, is a gem. The morning is glassy with a 6ft SSW swell, a 16-second period, and strong energy (1832). That's clean, smooth, and the best-looking session for the intermediate crowd. Saturday afternoon stays clean with a light breeze.

The second week gets a bit patchy. Sunday, August 16th, is small and weak. Monday, August 17th, the afternoon turns glassy with a 4ft swell, but it’s small. Tuesday, August 18th, is onshore and choppy. The real promise in the second week is Friday, August 21st, morning. The wind is dead calm, glassy conditions, with a 7ft SW swell and a 16-second period. The energy is very strong (1871), and the report says "very good". That’s a long-range standout, but it’s a promising one. The rest of the week is a mix of small and windy.

So, to sum it up: the standouts are Monday afternoon, August 10th and Thursday afternoon, August 13th for the big, powerful, clean groundswell for experts. For the rest of us, Saturday morning, August 15th is the cleanest, most user-friendly window. And if you're looking ahead, Friday morning, August 21st has the potential to be a classic glassy day.

Rusty.

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