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.

Right off the bat, it’s a quiet start. We’re looking at a pretty long stretch of flat to tiny waves with poor conditions through the first week and a bit. From Monday the 20th right through to the morning of the 27th, there’s barely a ripple worth paddling for. The odd little bump shows up, but with no energy in the water and mostly onshore winds, it’s a solid no-go. You’ll be waiting a while.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Monday the 27th. The afternoon sees a bit of a jump in energy – a moderate 2ft S swell (showing 164 combined energy) with a 12-second period, and a clean cross-off breeze from the ENE. That’s a proper shift in the pattern. The surf will be small but clean, and for a spot that’s been dead quiet, it’s a welcome change.

Now, the standout for the whole period is Tuesday the 28th. That morning, we’ve got a 4ft SSW groundswell with a very long 14-second period. The combined energy kicks up to 745, which is a solid boost. Pair that with a glassy, light offshore wind from the north, and Rock Island is going to be absolutely pristine. This is the best on offer, no question. For a reef break that’s exposed to the south, a long-period SSW swell is a treat. The size is manageable for a beginner, but that long period means the sets will have some punch and the lines will be clean and well-defined. It’s a reef, so it’ll handle that longer period beautifully. The water temp is sitting around 79°F, which is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

The next few days after that hold some decent, smaller leftovers. Wednesday the 29th morning has a 3ft SSW swell, still with a 13-second period, and a clean cross-off from the NE. It’s a step down in energy (337) but still a fun, clean option. The crowd situation at Rock Island can be “sometimes” busy, so if you’re heading out on that Tuesday morning, expect a few other locals with the same idea.

After that, the energy fades quickly. The rest of the period into early August is pretty forgettable. We’re back to small, short-period swells, mostly onshore winds, and low energy numbers. The morning of Tuesday the 4th of August has a tiny 0.7ft ESE swell with a very long 15-second period, but with a risk of thunderstorms and only 55 combined energy, it’s not worth getting excited about.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a write-off. The real action is a short, sweet window centered on Tuesday the 28th of July. That’s your standout. Get on it.

Rusty.

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