Rock Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

The next few days are a slow start, but don’t write it off just yet. We’ve got a solid run of groundswell building from the south, and if you’re patient, there’s a window of proper waves coming.

First up, we’re looking at Rock Island. Friday the 31st through Saturday the 1st are pretty much a write-off. Tiny, weak swell with poor conditions. The energy is weak (29 to 31), and the best you’ll get is a glassy morning with a 1ft swell on Saturday, but it’s coming from the wrong direction and has no push. Not worth paddling out for.

Sunday the 2nd shows a slight pulse. A 1ft swell from the ESE with a long 16-second period shows up. The combined energy jumps to 104 (moderate), and it’s glassy in the morning. Surfable, but ordinary. Still, a morning session might get you a few.

Now, Monday the 3rd of August is where it starts to get interesting. A 3ft SE groundswell with a 17-second period arrives, and we’ve got clean offshore NE wind at 12 mph. This is a proper combo. The energy is 411 (moderate), and conditions are moderate offshore and clean. This is a good sign of things to come.

Tuesday the 4th of August is a standout. The swell jumps to 5ft from the SE, still with that long 17-second period. The energy is 1995 (strong), and the wind is NE at 12 mph, offshore and clean. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The water temperature is about average for this time of year. The morning session is the pick here, with the best conditions. The afternoon sees 7ft, but the wind goes cross-off, and the score drops. Still, Tuesday morning is the one to circle.

Wednesday the 5th of August is proper. We’re talking 10ft of SSE groundswell, with a 17-second period. The energy is 4762 (very strong), and the wind is offshore NE at 12 mph. This is huge, powerful surf. For expert surfers only. The quality is absolutely on offer in the morning. The afternoon has the same size, but the wind goes cross, so it’s not as clean. Get it while it’s good.

Thursday the 6th of August is the peak. 10ft from the S, 16-second period, and the energy is 5632 (very strong). Gentle offshore NE wind at 9 mph. This is exceptional surf for expert surfers. The morning session is the best on offer in the entire forecast. It’s clean, powerful, and has that long, lined-up groundswell feel. The afternoon is a write-off with onshore wind.

By Friday the 7th, the swell drops to 8ft, but the wind is cross-on, so it’s marginal. The weekend of the 8th and 9th sees the swell fade, with a glassy 6ft on Saturday morning but the wind is onshore by the afternoon. Sunday the 9th is small and clean, but not a standout.

The second week, from the 10th of August onward, is quiet. Monday the 10th has a little 3ft pulse with offshore wind, but the energy is low (233). After that, it’s all small, weak, and mostly clean but not surf-worthy. Tuesday the 11th through to the 15th is a long stretch of tiny waves, mostly under 2ft, with poor to ordinary conditions. A gap of several days with no real recommendations.

The standout windows are Tuesday the 4th morning, and Wednesday and Thursday the 5th and 6th mornings. The absolute best is Thursday morning the 6th. That’s the one you want to clear your schedule for.

Rusty.

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