Rhino Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

The surf forecast for Rhino Head is a bit of a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks. It kicks off this weekend but the conditions are pretty rough. The water temp is sitting at 59°, which is about average for this time of year, so you won't need the thickest winter suit.

The first few days, from Saturday the 11th right through to Tuesday the 14th, are a write-off for decent surfing. The wind is howling from the WSW and W, pushing 28 to 31 mph, making a mess of things. The swell is solid, between 7 ft and 8 ft, with moderate energy, but it's all cross-off wind and poor conditions. This is only for the experienced crew, and honestly, it looks more like a kite session than a paddle session.

The real standout window arrives on Wednesday the 15th. The swell drops to a clean 5 ft from the SW, with a long 14 to 15 second period. The real magic is the wind. On Wednesday morning we get a light breeze, and by the afternoon it turns glassy. This is going to be clean, lined-up reef waves. The energy is moderate, but the quality will be there for a good session. That’s the pick of the early run.

Thursday the 16th is cleaner but smaller, with 4 ft SW swell, and the wind stays light. Friday the 17th has a bit more size (5 ft) from the SSW, but the wind is cross-shore and lumpy, so it loses some of that clean appeal. After that, the swell drops off hard through the 18th, just 2 ft to 3 ft and weak.

Now, looking into the second week, there’s a promising pulse showing up. Sunday the 19th sees a solid 5 ft to 6 ft SW groundswell with a very long 18 second period, and the wind is offshore. That’s a combination that screams quality at a reef like Rhino Head, but it’s a long-range call so keep your fingers crossed. The energy picks up, so there will be some punch. After that, the swell fades again by the 21st and 22nd, turning weak and ordinary.

The real long-range standout is Thursday the 23rd. We’ve got a 7 ft SSW swell with a 16 second period, and energy is pumping. The wind is cross-off from the north, so it’s clean. That’s a proper swell for experts only, but it’s two weeks out – promising but not locked in.

So, the takeaway: If you want the best of the early window, get out on Wednesday the 15th when the wind goes glassy. For the week after, keep an eye on Sunday the 19th and Thursday the 23rd for the bigger, cleaner sets. Crowds can be a thing here sometimes, so get there early.

Rusty.

Read more