Rock Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Rock Island over the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, it’s a pretty quiet stretch. We’re looking at small, weak swell for most of the period, and you’ll have to dig deep to find a window worth paddling out. The best action is a pulse of moderate southerly energy that arrives around Tuesday the 8th, and then again on the 10th, but even those come with caveats.

Rock Island is a reef break, exposed to the south, which is our optimum direction. The first few days are a write-off. From Friday the 4th through Monday the 7th, we’ve got tiny waves - 0.7 ft to 2 ft - with poor surf conditions and strong winds. Saturday morning the 5th has a fresh 19 mph cross-offshore breeze, but only 1 ft of swell. Not worth it.

The first real standout arrives Tuesday morning the 8th of September. Swell bumps up to 5 ft from the SSE, with a period of 10 seconds, pushing combined wave energy to 460 (moderate). The wind is light and cross-shore from the west at 3 mph, keeping the surface clean with just a few ripples. The water temp is about average for this time of year. This is the best you’ll see all week, but it’s a marginal call – the wave comment says questionable tide conditions, so pick your session carefully. This is a beginner-friendly spot, but that 5 ft is right at the top end for learners, so keep that in mind.

Thursday morning the 10th sees a similar setup: 6 ft from the south at 9 seconds, with a moderate 577 combined energy. Winds are light from the north at 9 mph, blowing cross-offshore and keeping things clean. Again, the forecast flags it as marginal, and the crowd can be around sometimes. The swell is getting a bit bigger, so for the more experienced crew, this could be your go.

After that, it fades out fast. From Friday the 11th right through to the end of the 16-day window on the 19th, we’re back to tiny, weak swell – mostly under 2 ft, with very poor wave energy. Winds are often offshore or glassy, but there’s just no power. The short periods (4 to 8 seconds) mean the waves will be weak and crumbly. It’s a long, flat run.

So, for the best of a slow bunch, point your board at Rock Island on Tuesday morning the 8th or Thursday morning the 10th. The 8th looks cleaner, the 10th has a touch more size. After that, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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