Rhino Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, with a look at the local surf scene. We've got one spot that's going to be our main focus over this 16-day stretch: Rhino Head. It's a sheltered reef break that's pretty consistent, and it's a good option for beginners when the swell's not too big. Water temp is sitting at 59°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year.

The first few days are a bit of a slow burn. Sunday the 23rd starts with some lumpy, cross-shore wind on a 5ft SW swell, but by the afternoon the wind drops right off to almost nothing, cleaning up the 5ft SW swell. It's a promising start but nothing to write home about.

Monday the 24th is a write-off with light rain and 12 mph cross-winds mucking up the 3ft swell. The next day, Tuesday the 25th, is a no-go too. A strong 19 mph cross-wind is on it, and that 6ft SSW swell is just a messy, lumpy affair.

We start to see some life on Wednesday the 26th. A clean 4ft SW swell with light offshore wind in the morning. It's surfable. Thursday the 27th morning is okay, but it's the afternoon that's the real standout. We get a 4ft SW groundswell with a very long 19-second period and light offshore wind. That's a recipe for some beautifully clean, lined-up waves. The wave energy is moderate (1399), but the quality will be excellent.

Friday the 28th is the real gem. The morning has a clean 6ft SW swell with light offshore wind. Then the afternoon turns glassy – dead calm, offshore wind, and a 5ft SW swell. That's as good as it gets. The wave energy is strong (1101), and the conditions are perfect.

The weekend takes a dip. Saturday the 29th is a mess with onshore wind, and Sunday the 30th is a write-off with onshore wind and a 4ft SSW swell. Monday the 31st is a bit of a mixed bag, with some clean afternoon windows.

Into the first week of September, things get choppy and inconsistent. Tuesday the 1st and Wednesday the 2nd have some clean but small windows, but the wind gets fresh and the swell drops off. Thursday the 3rd through to Saturday the 5th is a long stretch of poor to marginal conditions. The swell stays small and the wind is all wrong. It's a quiet period.

Then, on Sunday the 6th of September, we get a nice surprise. The morning is glassy, with a solid 7ft SW groundswell and a long 16-second period. The wave energy is very strong (3271). This is a standout for experienced surfers – that size is going to be too much for beginners. The sets will be clean and powerful, but the long period might make it a bit walled-off at this reef, so pick your peak. The afternoon is still clean with a 6ft swell, but the wind picks up a touch. Monday the 7th is blown out by a strong 25 mph wind, so that's that.

So, looking at the whole 16 days, the best windows are undeniably the Thursday afternoon, Friday, and Sunday morning sessions. Friday the 28th's glassy afternoon is the pick of the lot – you won't get better conditions than that. The 7ft glassy swell on the 6th of September is the other big one, but only if you've got the chops for it. The rest of the period is a mix of small, clean windows and poor, blown-out days.

Rusty out.

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