Rock Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s comin’ down the pipe for Rock Island. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, but we’ve got a couple of windows that are worth getting excited about.

The water is sitting at 75°, which is a touch colder than normal for this time of year. Not a shocker, but you’ll want a decent spring suit or maybe a thin bootie if you’re sensitive to it.

The first real action kicks off Thursday the 9th of July. We’ve got a solid 5 ft south-southeast swell rollin’ in with a 14-second period, and the energy is pumped up at 1088 (moderate to strong). The wind is straight onshore from the south at 12 mph though, so it’s gonna be a bit of a messy, choppy battle. The report calls it marginal, and I’d agree – not a total write-off, but you’ll be workin’ for it.

Friday the 10th of July sees the swell bump up to 6 ft from the south, period stretching to 15 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell, and the energy jumps to 1410. The morning has a gentler 9 mph south-southwest wind, still onshore, but it might be doable for a seasoned surfer. The afternoon though, freshens up to 16 mph from the south, and the model says poor conditions – that’s a no-go.

Saturday the 11th of July is the biggest pulse of the run. Swell hits 7 ft from the south-southwest, 16-second period, and the energy is cookin’ at 2368. That’s strong. But the wind is a moderate breeze onshore at 12 mph in the morning, and crankin’ up to 19 mph in the afternoon. With that onshore wind and a beach/reef setup, this is lookin’ more like a kite surfer’s dream than a paddle surfer’s. It’s right on the edge of being too big for beginners, and only experts should even consider it.

Sunday the 12th of July, the swell eases back to 6 ft from the south-southwest, 16-second period, energy at 1661. Morning wind is back to a gentle 9 mph onshore. The afternoon turns cross-onshore and choppy. Still marginal.

Now, here’s the standout. Monday the 13th of July. The swell drops right back to 3 ft from the south-southwest, but the period holds at 13 seconds – that’s a nice, long groundswell. The energy is a modest 222. But the wind? Glassy. Absolutely flat calm. Both morning and afternoon are glassy. That’s a major positive. The report says “expect good surf conditions.” For a south swell hitting a reef that likes south swell, this is your cleanest, most fun window of the whole forecast. The waves will be small, clean, and lined up. Crowds are possible here, so get in early.

After Monday, the surf goes quiet. Tuesday the 14th of July has tiny 2 ft and 1 ft waves with cross-offshore winds, but they’re too small to get excited about. From Wednesday the 15th of July right through to the end of the forecast on Thursday the 24th of July, it’s mostly flat or near-flat, with weak energy (often under 100) and onshore or poor winds. There are a few glassy mornings on the 18th and 24th, but the swell is only 2 ft or 1.0 ft – not enough to push a proper wave.

So, to wrap it up: if you’re a beginner, stick to the small, clean Monday the 13th. If you’re an expert and want power, the Saturday the 11th has size but you’ll be battling strong onshore wind – it’s more of a tow or kite day. The real gem is that Monday morning glass-off.

Rusty.

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