Rhino Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's take a look at what's on the table for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we're looking at a pretty grim stretch. The first real chance of anything worthwhile is a long way off, so don't get your hopes up for the next week or so.

We've got Rhino Head as the only spot showing any signs of life. It's a sheltered reef break, best on a SW swell. It's fairly consistent, but the crowds can be a thing here sometimes, so keep that in mind. The water temp is sitting at 59°, which is pretty much spot on average for this time of year.

The first few days are a write-off. Wednesday the 22nd has some swell, 4ft from the SW with a 12-second period, but the wind is a messy cross-off and the energy is weak (584). The conditions are just marginal. Thursday and Friday are bigger, with swell hitting 6ft from the SSW on Thursday afternoon and a longer 15-second period, packing a solid punch of energy (1982). But the wind is straight cross or cross-off, and the forecasts are calling it marginal or poor. Saturday the 25th drops right back down to under 3ft, and it's just ordinary.

We get a tiny glimpse of something better on Sunday the 26th afternoon. The swell is only 3ft from the SSW, but the wind goes offshore from the WNW and it's a gentle breeze. That's a clean, glassy window for a wave. The energy is low (200), but for a small-wave board, it could be a fun little session.

Then it's back to the doldrums. Monday the 27th through Thursday the 30th is all messy cross-shore and onshore winds, with nothing worth paddling out for. The swell is there, but the quality is just gone.

Finally, we get a genuine standout. Look at Sunday morning, August 2nd. The wind is a whisper-light cross-off from the NW, barely a breath at 3 mph. The swell is a solid 5ft from the SW with a very long 17-second period, and the energy is strong (1165). The forecast is calling for "very good surf conditions." This is the one. The long period means it's a proper groundswell, and at a reef, it should hold up beautifully. It's a bit of a wait, but that's the session to circle on the calendar. The afternoon gets ruined by a cross-on southerly, so make it a morning mission.

After that, the window slams shut again. The first week of August is a relentless stream of moderate to fresh cross-onshore winds and lumpy, choppy conditions. The swell is still around, but it's a mess. For a beach-and-reef setup like this, with that much wind, it honestly starts looking more like a kite-surfing proposition than a paddle-surfing one.

So, to wrap it up: the next week is basically a bust. Don't bother. The only real light at the end of the tunnel is that Sunday morning, August 2nd, at Rhino Head. It's a long way out, so the forecast could shift, but as it stands, that's your best and only real bet.

Rusty.

Read more