Rhino Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what’s coming down the line for Rhino Head over the next couple of weeks. Let’s get straight into it.

This is a classic case of "hurry up and wait." The forecast window kicks off with a few days of nothing really worth paddling out for. Friday the 3rd brings a pulse of energy, with a 7ft SSW swell riding on a long 15-second period, but a cross-off wind and marginal conditions keep it from being a proper standout. The water temp is sitting at 60°, which is bang on average for this time of year.

The real bright spot, the one you want to mark on your calendar, lands on Saturday the 4th in the morning. It’s not the biggest swell at 5ft from the SW with a good 14-second period, but that ESE breeze is glassy – dead calm. That’s the kind of clean, glassy surface that turns a modest swell into a really fun session. The combined wave energy sits at 740 (moderate), but that wind makes it feel like a much better day than the numbers suggest. Crowds are possible here, so get in early.

Beyond that, the week gets messy. Sunday the 5th and Monday the 6th are written off by onshore and cross-onshore winds, even as the swell hangs around. Tuesday the 7th through Thursday the 9th are more of the same – poor to marginal conditions with moderate breezes chopping things up, despite some decent long-period energy from the SSW.

The next flicker of hope shows up on Saturday the 11th in the afternoon. A building 6ft WSW swell with a 13-second period and clean cross-off winds from the NNW. The energy is moderate (983), but it’s a solid jump in size with clean conditions.

Then, hold onto your boardies. Sunday the 12th sees a big, raw SW groundswell pushing through. The morning has 8ft of SW swell at a very long 17-second period, but it’s blowing a near gale from the SW at 34 mph. The combined energy is a massive 3544 – that’s strong to very strong. This setup is strictly for experts only, and with that much wind, it’s going to be a beast of a paddle. For most of us, this looks more interesting for kite surfing than a clean paddle session. The afternoon cleans up a touch, but it’s still an 8ft swell with a strong breeze.

Monday the 13th is still big. The morning sees a 7ft SW swell with that same massive energy of 3726, but the winds back off to a moderate cross-off breeze, offering cleaner, more manageable conditions for the confident surfer. This remains big, powerful groundswell best suited to a reef setup like Rhino Head itself.

After that, the energy slowly fades. The rest of the week into the next weekend is a mix of smaller, choppy, or onshore days.

One last little gem to watch: Saturday the 18th in the afternoon. A tiny 4ft SW swell with a 14-second period, but the wind switches to a light offshore breeze from the WNW. That’s glassy clean again. Combined energy is low at 476 (weak), and the waves will be smaller, but that clean, offshore trim will be a treat for anyone wanting a relaxing, uncrowded session. It’s a promising but less certain long-range call.

Bottom line: Saturday morning the 4th is your best bet for clean, glassy fun. Monday the 13th morning is for the big-wave crew in clean, powerful conditions.

Stay sharp, stay safe.
Rusty.

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