Rhino Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let's get into it. The only spot that's got anything going on for the next couple of weeks is Rhino Head. It's a sheltered reef break, which is important because this stretch is looking at a consistent, but wonky, run of conditions. The water temp is sitting at 59°F, which is bang on average for this time of year – no surprises there.

We're kicking off on the afternoon of the 14th of August. It's looking pretty magic right out of the gate: clear skies, a light cross-offshore breeze, and a solid pulse of 6ft SSW groundswell. The period is a long 16 seconds, which is proper groundswell, and the energy is strong (1809). This is the standout session. For a reef that's set up for a SW swell, this will be the best of the window – clean, powerful, and with that longer period giving you some proper grunt on the takeoff. It's only a beginner-friendly break normally, but that size means it's stepping up for intermediates.

After that, things get a bit messy. From the 15th through to the 18th, we’ve got onshore winds from the ESE and ENE, blowing out the quality. The swell drops a bit, but the wind makes it near unsurfable, with scores that suggest sitting it out. A couple of mornings on the 17th and 18th might look okay on paper, but the cross-onshore chop is a buzzkill.

We get a flicker of hope on the morning of the 20th. The wind swings offshore from the WNW, light at 9 mph, with a clean 4ft SW swell. It’s small, but that offshore breeze will make the face glassy and forgiving for beginners. Then the 21st of August afternoon throws up a bigger 6ft at 17 seconds, but the cross-offshore wind and a marginal tide call mean it might be a tricky one to nail. The energy is massive (2668) but you need the tide to play ball.

The standout second week session is the afternoon of the 23rd. Sunday sees clear skies, light easterly cross-onshore wind, but the swell jumps to 7ft at 17 seconds from the SW. The combined energy is through the roof (3025). For a reef break, that long period will make it wall up nicely, but the cross-onshore wind means it won’t be as clean as the 14th. It’s still the best size offering later in the run.

The 26th packs a punch, too, with a 7ft SW swell and a 22 mph offshore wind. That's a fresh offshore, so it'll groom it, but with that size at a sheltered reef, it's pushing expert territory. The energy is enormous (3727), so expect a washing machine in the lineup.

Finally, the morning of the 28th of August is worth a mention. Glassy conditions with a light 4ft SW groundswell from 13 seconds and zero wind – dead glass. That’s the kind of session where a longboard would be a dream.

Overall, the first afternoon (14th) is the definite stand-out for quality, and the 23rd afternoon is the best for sheer power, though it comes with a little chop. This break can have crowds, so with the epic conditions on the 14th, expect company.

Rusty

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