Rock Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way.

Honestly, the next 16 days are a bit of a struggle. We’ve got a decent pulse of swell rolling in right now, but the wind is just not playing ball for most of it. The real standout window is narrow, so you’ll need to pick your moments.

Sunday the 12th kicks off with some solid energy. Rock Island is seeing a 6 ft SSW swell, with a long 16-second period – that’s proper groundswell. The water’s sitting at 76°, which is about average for this time of year. The combined energy is strong (1383), so there’s plenty of push. But the wind is onshore from the SSW, and it’s 6 mph in the morning, picking up to 12 mph by the afternoon. It’s going to be a bit messy. This one is for the die-hards who don’t mind a bit of chop.

Monday the 13th drops off quickly. The swell fades to 3 ft in the morning, and the wind is cross-onshore from the SSE. It’s small and weak, with energy dropping to 313. Not worth getting excited about.

From Tuesday the 14th right through to Friday the 17th, it’s pretty much a write-off. Swell bottoms out below 2 ft, and the wind is onshore or cross-onshore nearly the whole time. The energy numbers are tiny – in the double digits or low triple digits. You’re looking at 4 to 5 days of flat, blown-out conditions. Not a wave worth paddling for.

Now, here’s the glimmer of hope. Saturday the 18th is the only real standout in this whole stretch. Come Saturday morning, the wind goes glassy – a perfect 3 mph offshore breeze from the east. The swell is 3 ft from the SE with a 12-second period, and the energy is moderate (292). Rock Island cleans right up. This is your best bet. The waves will be small but clean, and with that offshore flow, it’ll be smooth. It’s a reef break, so it’ll handle that period well. Get in early, because it’s a beginner-friendly size, but it’s going to be the best session of the week.

After that, it’s back to the doldrums. Sunday the 19th through to the end of the period on the 27th, we’re looking at tiny swell, mostly below 2 ft, and the wind is all over the shop – onshore, cross, and sometimes a little clean, but never with enough wave size to make it worthwhile. The energy numbers are all under 100. There’s a brief moment on the morning of the 26th with glassy conditions, but it’s only 1 ft of swell. Not enough to ride.

So, to wrap it up: your only real window is Saturday morning, the 18th at Rock Island. That’s the one. The rest is a waiting game. It’s a tough run, but it won’t stay this way forever.

Rusty.

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