Rhino Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up.

First up, we’ve got a window of solid, long-period SW groundswell rolling in, but it’s a bit of a mixed bag with the wind. The water temp is sitting at 59°F which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no nasty surprises there.

The best bet for the whole run looks like Friday morning, the 14th of August. We’re talking about a solid 7ft swell from the SSW with a very long 16-second period – that’s proper groundswell energy. The combined energy is pumping at 2002 (strong wave energy). The wind is a light cross-offshore breeze from the SW, which is going to keep the faces clean. This is the standout session for a confident surfer. Rhino Head is a sheltered reef, so that long period energy will wrap in nicely, giving you some real shape. It’s a beginner-friendly break, but at 7ft, it’s starting to push the limits for total novices.

Thursday the 13th is a bit of a tease. We’ve got a similar 7ft SSW swell with that impressive 16-second period (combined energy 2178 – strong wave energy), but the cross-offshore wind is a bit stronger. It’s still surfable and clean, but the forecast calls it “marginal,” likely due to the tide. Not a write-off, but Friday morning is the clear winner.

After that, things get messy. From Saturday the 15th right through to the end of the 16-day window, the wind swings onshore or cross-onshore from the ESE and ENE, just destroying the quality. The swell drops right off, and the combined energy falls to weak or moderate levels. There’s a long stretch of poor conditions here – about a week and a half of nothing worth paddling out for.

Now, there is a glimmer in the very long-range forecast. On Tuesday the 25th of August, the wind is still a bit strong (22 mph), but it’s a cross-offshore from the N, keeping things clean. The swell is back to 5ft from the SW, but the period has jumped to a massive 19 seconds (combined energy 2265 – strong wave energy). That is a very long-period groundswell. It’s still a “marginal” call on the conditions, but if the wind co-operates, that’s a session you’d want to be watching. It’s a promising but less certain long-range target.

For the rest of the run, it’s a no-go for a paddle. The wind is just too strong or too onshore, and the swell is either too small or too weak. If you’re a kite surfer, the strong cross-offshore winds we see on the 22nd and 23rd of August with the 5ft to 5ft swell might be worth a look, but for a surfer, it’s a long wait.

Stay patient, and circle that Friday morning, 14th of August.

Rusty.

Read more