Rhino Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

Alright, the next 16 days are a bit of a mixed bag, but there’s some real fire in the second half of this run if you can wait. The headline is a solid, long-period swell from the SSW lining up for the second week of September, and with the right wind, it’s going to be a game-changer.

The first real swell of note arrives on Wednesday afternoon, the 2nd of September. It's a 5.2ft SW swell with a 15 second period, giving it some real push. The combined energy is a solid 1124 (moderate). The problem? It’s howling from the W at 15.5 mph, cross-off, but it’s a strong breeze. The water is sitting at 59.5°, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing crazy there. It’s doable, but it’s not the best of the window.

Thursday the 3rd has a bit more size, 6.6ft SW, but the wind is cross-off from the SW at 12.4 mph. It’s clean, but the scores are a bit meh. The energy jumps up to 1863 Thursday morning and even 2445 Thursday afternoon, so there’s power, but the conditions are just a little off the mark.

Friday the 4th morning is where it starts to get interesting. The swell is 6.9ft from the SSW with a 16 second period, and the combined energy is a hefty 2151 (strong). The wind is a gentle breeze from the NNE at 12.4 mph, cross-off, and it’s clean. This is a real standout for the first week. It’s a bit much for a beginner at 6.9ft, but for an experienced surfer, this is a proper groundswell at Rhino Head. The long period (16 seconds) means it’s going to reel off nicely down the reef, but be aware that long period swells can sometimes make a beach break too straight. For a reef like this, it’s a dream.

The rest of the first week and into the second week is a write-off. Saturday the 5th is blown out with 24.9 mph winds, and Sunday the 6th is small and cross-shore. Then from Monday the 7th through to Friday the 11th, it’s a total desert. Small, onshore, rubbish. Don’t even bother. That’s a solid five-day gap in the action.

We start to see a pulse return on the 12th of September with a 3.6ft SW swell and a moderate offshore from the NW. It’s a small one, but it’s clean. Then the real event kicks off on Monday the 14th of September. This is the one you’ve been waiting for. The swell bumps up to 7.2ft from the SSW, with a 17-second period. The combined wave energy is a massive 2795 (strong to very strong). The wind is glassy, 3.1 mph from the NW in the morning. That is a perfect setup. The power is immense, and the conditions are immaculate. This is for experienced surfers only with that size, but it will be a session to remember. The afternoon on the 14th is still solid at 6.6ft and clean with a light cross-off, so you’ve got a full day of it.

The 15th of September Tuesday morning is still fun at 4.6ft with glassy conditions, but the energy is dropping. The 16th of September has a moderate offshore from the WNW at 15.5 mph, keeping it clean for a small 4.6ft SW swell. The 17th of September Thursday afternoon has a little 3.9ft SSW swell and a light cross-off wind, clean and rideable. But the peak of the window is undeniably Monday the 14th. That’s the one to circle on the calendar. The crowd at Rhino Head can be present sometimes, so get there early.

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