Rhino Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – this 16-day window is a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got a run of days with surf, but you’re gonna have to pick your moments carefully. The wind is the main issue, it’s gonna be howling for a lot of it. The first proper session that catches my eye isn’t until later, so don’t rush out the door just yet.

Alright, let’s start at Rhino Head (West Coast). This is a sheltered reef break that works best with a SW swell, and it’s a beginner-friendly spot that breaks fairly consistently. For Sunday the 26th, we’ve got a 3-foot SW groundswell with a long 12-second period, combined wave energy sitting at a weak 270. Wind is clean and offshore from the WNW at 9 mph, so it’ll be glassy and nice. Water temp is 59°F, which is only 0.4°F off normal for this time of year, so pretty average for the season. It’s surfable but the size is tiny.

Monday the 27th is a write-off. Morning and afternoon both get smashed with fresh to strong breezes over 18 mph and the surf is poor. Tuesday the 28th gets interesting but dangerous: a 7 to 8-foot SW swell rolls in, long period of 14-15 seconds, and the combined energy jumps massively to 2102 and 2824 (moderate to strong). This is expert territory now – way too big for beginners. The problem is strong cross-off winds at 25-28 mph, so it’s gonna be messy and blown out. Wednesday the 29th drops back a touch with 6 to 7-foot SSW swell, but the wind is cross-shore and lumpy. Conditions stay poor to marginal.

Thursday the 30th through Friday the 31st is a drop-off. Swell falls to 2–4 feet with weak energy under 500, and light cross-shore winds create small ripples. It’s flat and poor.

Now, Saturday the 1st of August shows a bit of hope. A 3–3-foot SW groundswell rolls in, but the period is very long at 17 to 20 seconds. Energy is moderate at 400 to 719. Winds are light to moderate cross-off from the north, so it stays clean. The catch: a 20-second period at a beach-friendly reef break means the waves will be super lined-up and straight, not ideal for this setup. Still, a clean wave is a clean wave.

Sunday the 2nd of August is rough again. Swell builds to 4–5 feet, but strong offshore winds of 25 mph blow hard offshore – clean but so strong you’ll struggle to paddle out (combined energy 1005–1049, moderate). Monday the 3rd is similar: 6–7-foot SW swell with strong cross-off winds. Tuesday the 4th quiets down – a 3–4-foot SW swell, light winds, and clean conditions. The energy drops to 439–525. It’s marginal but the first real chance for a beginner to get a few.

THE STANDOUT comes on Wednesday the 5th of August. Morning brings a 5-foot SSW groundswell, 16-second period, combined energy of 1034 (moderate), and glassy light winds from the WSW at just 3 mph. This is clean, the swell has good length, and it’s not too big. Crowds can sometimes be an issue at Rhino Head, so getting in early is a good idea. This is the best session on offer for the whole window.

After that, conditions slide. Thursday the 6th goes cross-shore and weak. Friday the 7th is poor with lumpy cross-shore winds. Saturday the 8th has a 4–5-foot SW swell and moderate clean wind but only marginal quality. Sunday the 9th is flat and cross-shore again.

The final note: Monday the 10th of August brings a big pulse. A 6 to 10-foot SSW to SW swell with a 19-20 second period and combined energy through the roof at 4083 and 6829 (very strong). This is a huge groundswell. The wind, though, is a strong cross-shore and cross-off at 25 mph. It’s going to be a heavy, raw, and messy day – only for the most experienced, and even then, that strong cross-shore wind will make it a battle. Could be more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer on that afternoon.

Overall, the standout window is Wednesday the 5th of August. Late July and early August have a few clean moments, but the wind is the boss, and most days are marginal or poor. Still, the reef can hold, and if you get that Wednesday morning glass-off, you’ll score.

Rusty.

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