Rock Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s happening at Rock Island.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a tease. The forecast kicks off on Thursday, August 6th with a solid 6ft swell from the SSE, period hanging at a solid 13 seconds, and the combined energy is strong at 1131. That’s proper groundswell energy. But – and this is a big but – the wind is cross-offshore from the NE in the morning, so it’s clean, but the wave comment is "marginal," and the tide’s not playing ball. By the afternoon, it swings onshore from the S. This swell has real potential for a reef like Rock Island, but you’d have to be picky about the tide window. The water’s sitting at 82°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – about 2° above average, so it’s noticeably warm.

Friday, August 7th, the swell drops to 5ft, period still good at 13 seconds, but the wind is a light cross-on from the SSE in the morning, putting small ripples on the face. The energy is still chunky at 974 (moderate). Afternoon turns into a complete write-off with onshore wind and poor conditions. Saturday, August 8th, the swell fades to 4ft, period drops to 11 seconds, and the morning is cross-on with a slight air. The energy is down to 368 (moderate). This isn’t worth getting wet for.

Sunday, August 9th, the swell is tiny, 2ft, period 10 seconds, but the morning is glassy. That’s the only clean moment, but the wave energy is weak at 172. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. Then from Monday, August 10th, through Sunday, August 16th, it’s a flat spell. Swell consistently below 2ft, periods dropping, energy in the 30s to 120s – weak. The wind is often offshore or cross-off, but there’s just no power. You’re looking at a solid 6-7 day gap of nothing worth paddling out for.

The second week isn’t much better. From Monday, August 17th, through to Friday, August 21st, the swell stays below 2ft. There’s a tiny blip of energy on Wednesday, August 19th, with a 1ft, 15-second period swell from the S – that’s a very long period, but it’s just too small. The combined energy is only 63. By Friday, August 21st, we see a slight uptick to 2ft from the S, period 12 seconds, and clean cross-off wind in the afternoon, with energy climbing to 111. That’s weak energy, but it’s the best of the second week. Still, it’s marginal.

Overall, the standout window is the morning of Thursday, August 6th. That’s your best bet – 6ft, long period, clean cross-off wind, and strong energy. But it’s a short window, and you’ll have to work the tide. After that, it’s a long dry spell until the very end of the forecast, which is still too small to get excited about.

-Rusty

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