Rhino Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Rhino Head over the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but the whole period is actually pretty interesting. The first couple of days are just a tease, with small, weak swell. Things really start to kick off from Thursday the 6th of August, and we’ve got a few solid pulses of energy coming through. The water temp is sitting right where it should be for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Wednesday 5th August is a write-off, to be honest. We’ve got a tiny 2ft SSW swell, but it’s got a very long period of 19 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell, but at that size, it’s just not enough to get excited about. The wind is a cross-off from the NNW, but the energy is weak, and the surf is poor. Leave the board at home.

Thursday 6th August is where we start to see a pulse. The morning has a clean 3ft SSW swell, period still long at 16 seconds, and the combined energy is moderate. By the afternoon, it builds to 3.6ft from the SW, with a light cross-off breeze and the energy climbs. This is a good, clean option for a beginner session. The swell is small, but it’s the best we’ve seen yet.

Friday 7th August gets a bit bigger, with 5.2ft to 5.6ft SW swell. The period is still a solid 16-17 seconds, and the energy is now strong. However, the wind is a moderate cross-off from the N/NNE, and the conditions are described as marginal. It’s surfable, but it’s not the best quality. The size is getting into the “too big for some beginners” zone.

Saturday 8th August is a complete no-go. A fresh breeze from the N at 22 mph and rain makes for poor conditions. The 4.6ft SW swell is there, but it’s messy. Give it a miss.

Sunday 9th August is even worse for paddle surfing. The swell jumps to 7.2ft to 8.2ft from the WSW/SW, with a very strong energy, but a near-gale wind (28 - 34 mph) is blowing. This is a kite surfing setup, not a paddle surfing one. The conditions are poor.

Monday 10th August is a standout. The morning sees a solid 9.8ft SW swell with a period of 17 seconds and a huge energy reading. The wind is a fresh offshore from the WNW, making for clean, lined-up waves. This is excellent for experienced surfers only. The afternoon holds 8.2ft, but the wind picks up to a strong offshore, making it hard to paddle into. The morning is the window.

Tuesday 11th August has a mixed bag. The morning is poor with strong cross-off winds. But the afternoon is a real highlight. A massive 11.5ft SW swell, with a very long period of 21 seconds, and a huge energy reading. The wind is a fresh cross-off. This is a serious, expert-level groundswell. The long period will make it very straight at a beach break, but Rhino Head is a reef, so it should handle it. This is another one for the experienced crew only.

Wednesday 12th August is back to messy, with a near-gale offshore wind making it nearly impossible to paddle into. The 9.8ft swell is there, but it’s not worth the battle.

Thursday 13th August is a top-tier day. The morning has a clean 8.2ft swell from the SSW, with a period of 18 seconds and very strong energy. The wind is a light cross-off, and the conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers. This is a proper, powerful groundswell with clean conditions.

Friday 14th August and Saturday 15th August are both very good. We’ve got 5.6ft to 6.2ft SW swell, with periods of 15-17 seconds and moderate to strong energy. The wind is light and offshore, making for clean, fun waves. This is the sweet spot for a wider range of surfers, as the size is manageable but still has plenty of punch.

Sunday 16th August and Monday 17th August see the swell drop back to 3.3ft - 3.9ft. The wind is light, and the conditions are good for a small wave session. The energy is moderate.

Tuesday 18th August sees another big pulse. The morning is a bit messy with a cross-shore wind, but the afternoon is a standout. A 7.9ft SW swell, period of 16 seconds, and a strong energy. The wind is a gentle cross-off, and the conditions are excellent for experienced surfers. This is a great option.

Read more