Rhino Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at the charts. The next couple of weeks have a slow start, but there’s a real beauty waiting for us in the second week. We’ve got a mix of wind and swell, so you’ll need to be patient and pick your sessions.

The water temp is sitting around 59°F at Rhino Head, which is just about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

First up, we’ve got a bit of a wait. The beginning of the forecast window looks pretty average. We see some waist-to-chest high SSW swell on the afternoon of the 25th, but that’s blown out with a 19 mph crosswind, so don’t bother.

Things start to look a little better on Wednesday the 26th. The morning at Rhino Head has a clean 4 ft SW swell with a light cross-offshore breeze. It’s small, but fun for a beginner log. The afternoon gets even cleaner with a glassy 3 ft and offshore wind. Good for a longboard.

Thursday the 27th offers a slight uptick in quality. The afternoon session sees a 3 ft SW groundswell with a 19-second period and a clean cross-off breeze. The energy is building – you can feel it in the water. It’s not big, but the long period will give it some shape.

Friday the 28th is a write-off thanks to onshore winds. Saturday and Sunday are poor too. There’s a solid four-day stretch of slop from the 29th through the 1st of September.

Now, we start to see some proper potential on Monday the 31st. The afternoon session at Rhino Head has a reasonable 5 ft SSW swell, a 16-second period, and a clean cross-off breeze. That’s a fun, punchy little wave. *But* we do have to talk about crowds – this spot can get busy, so get in early.

The real standout is further out. Wednesday, September 9th is your target. Mark it in your calendar. The morning shows a clean 6 ft SW swell with a 17-second period and a whisper-light offshore breeze. That’s a proper groundswell, and the energy is cranking. This is the kind of day that makes a surfer’s spine tingle. The afternoon is even better, with a 6 ft SW swell, 17-second period, and light offshore winds. This is expert territory with the size and power, but for those with the skills, it’ll be mint. Keep in mind that a long period swell like this can tend to close out on the beach, but at a reef setup like Rhino Head, it should line up beautifully.

If you’re a beginner, the 3 ft to 4 ft days between the 26th and 27th are your window. For the more experienced crew, wait for that September 9th window. It’s promising, but it’s a long way out so keep an eye on the forecasts.

Rusty.

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