Rhino Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for Rhino Head. We’ve got a pretty solid run of surf coming up, but it’s not all clean sailing. There’s a big, powerful swell due early next week, but it comes with some nasty wind – we’ll have to pick our moments.

The action kicks off Saturday afternoon, the 8th of August. The first surf we see is a bit of a tease – a clean 5ft SW groundswell (period 15 seconds) with a moderate cross-off breeze from the N at 12 mph. The water is sitting at 58°, which is bang on average for this time of year; nothing to write home about there. The combined energy is moderate (856), so it’s a decent start, but the report says marginal. It’s a foot in the water, but not the day.

Sunday the 9th is where it starts to get interesting. The morning is a write-off, but Sunday afternoon? That’s a standout. The wind swings around to a light offshore from the WNW at 6 mph, grooming a 5ft SW groundswell with a very long period of 16 seconds. The combined energy jumps up to 1242 (moderate), and the report says "expect very good surf conditions." This is your window for a clean, lined-up reef break. Remember, that long period means the sets will be a bit more spaced out, so the paddle out is easier. It’s a beginner-friendly break, but crowds are possible here sometimes, so get there early.

Monday the 10th is a different beast. A massive SW swell hits, with a solid 10ft in the morning dropping to 8ft in the afternoon. Periods are still long at 17 and 16 seconds. The combined energy is through the roof – 5182 and 3707 – that’s very strong wave energy. But the wind is a fresh cross-off from the SW and WSW, which is not ideal for the shape. At 10ft, this is only for experts. The report calls it marginal, so the quality is likely messy. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing if you ask me.

Tuesday the 11th and Wednesday the 12th are a right-off. Strong, gusty winds from the NW and W (up to 28 mph) and dropping swell. The surf is poor and not worth a look.

By Thursday the 13th, the swell settles back to 7ft to 8ft from the SW, with a moderate breeze. It’s still clean, but the report says marginal. The energy is still high (2119 to 2594), but the wind isn’t letting it be perfect.

The absolute best on offer is Friday the 14th. The morning is a gem. A 7ft SSW groundswell with a period of 17 seconds, combined with a gentle cross-off breeze from the SW at 9 mph. The energy is strong at 2127, and the report says "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers." This is for the crew who can handle a bit of size and power. The wind is light, the waves will be clean. The afternoon sees a slight drop to 6ft, still very good. This is the day to circle on the calendar.

From Saturday the 15th onwards, the wind turns onshore and the quality drops. There’s a long gap of marginal to poor surf through until the 21st of August. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-shore, and the swell mixes up.

We get a bit of a pulse on the 21st of August (Friday morning) – a 6ft SW groundswell with a period of 17 seconds, and a clean cross-off breeze from the NNW. Combined energy is 1839 (moderate). The report says marginal, but it’s a cleaner option compared to the rest of the week. It’s a promising long-range signal, but less certain.

The last possible decent window is the 23rd of August (Sunday). A 7ft SW groundswell with a very long period of 19 seconds hits, but the wind is a moderate cross-shore from the NNE at 16 mph, causing a chop. The energy is very strong (2802), but the conditions will be messy.

So, summing it up: Sunday afternoon the 9th for the best clean, beginner-friendly waves, and Friday morning the 14th for the experienced crew looking for the best quality and power. Everything else is a bit of a gamble with the wind.

Rusty.

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