Rhino Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for the Rhino Head area. We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks, so let’s break it down.

Right off the bat, the first few days are a write-off. Friday and Saturday the 11th and 12th are looking pretty average. The swell is there, around 4ft from the SSW, but the wind is cross or onshore, leaving the surface choppy and messy. The combined energy is moderate (677 and 860), but the quality just isn’t there. Don’t bother paddling out.

Then we get a bit of a tease. Sunday the 13th sees the wind swing offshore from the WNW, blowing at 15 mph. The swell drops a touch to 3ft, but it’s clean. Combined energy has dropped to 458, but it’s surfable. Monday the 14th holds similar conditions, still clean with a 3ft to 4ft SSW swell. The energy is still moderate (495 to 623). It’s not pumping, but it’s a session.

The middle of the week, Tuesday the 15th and Wednesday the 16th, brings a bigger pulse of swell, hitting 6ft from the SSW. The combined energy kicks up to strong territory (1575 and 1376). However, the wind is back onshore and cross-onshore, making it choppy and messy. For the experienced crew, there might be some power in the water, but the conditions will be a fight. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

We hit a lull from Thursday the 17th through to Sunday the 20th. Swell sizes drop below 3ft, and while the wind is mostly clean, the energy is weak (down to 201). It’s a real flat spell, not worth getting excited about.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The standout period is shaping up for Monday the 21st and Tuesday the 22nd. On Monday, we see a 4ft to 4ft SSW swell with clean conditions and light winds. The energy is back up to moderate (616 to 653). Tuesday morning is the real gem: a 5ft SSW groundswell with a period of 15 seconds, and light offshore winds from the NW at 6 mph. The combined energy is strong (827) and the conditions will be glassy. This is a long-period groundswell, so it will be breaking a bit straighter at the beach, but Rhino Head is a reef setup, so it should handle it well. This is the best on offer for the whole forecast.

The tail end of the outlook, from Wednesday the 23rd onwards, goes downhill again. The swell pulses up to 7ft on the 23rd, but the wind is strong and onshore from the SE, making a mess of it. The energy is very strong (2728) but it’s a choppy, blown-out mess. The rest of the week is a mix of small, onshore, and choppy conditions.

So, to sum it up: forget the first week. The real window to get wet is Monday the 21st and Tuesday the 22nd of September, with Tuesday morning being the absolute pick. Clean, offshore, and a decent swell. After that, it’s a lottery.

Rusty out.

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