Rock Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s get into it in feet and miles an hour.

The next couple of weeks start off slow and build into a solid swell window mid-week, with the standout coming mid-next week when it all comes together. There’s a gap of nearly three days at the start of the period with no decent recommendation, but then it kicks off from Monday the 3rd of August.

Monday the 3rd of August is a bit of a teaser. Rock Island is seeing a small, long-period groundswell coming from the SE at 2ft, with a period of 16 seconds. That’s a very long period for such a small wave, so don’t expect much push. The wind is a fresh offshore NNE at 30 mph, so the surface will be clean, but water temperature is a touch warmer than normal at 83°. The swell energy is weak here, coming in at 277. It’s surfable, but you’ll be working hard for little reward.

Tuesday the 4th of August shows a step up. The morning swell bumps to 5ft from the SE, still that long 17-second period. The combined energy jumps to 1098 (moderate strength). Winds are fresh offshore NNE at 30 mph, so it’s clean. This is a solid beginner to intermediate wave at Rock Island—clean, with enough push to get a proper ride. The afternoon sees the swell push to 6ft from the SE, with a NE wind at 30 mph going cross-off, keeping it fairly clean. Energy is building to 1614.

Wednesday the 5th of August is the standout of the whole run. The morning has 8ft of SSE swell with a 16-second period, and that offshore NNE wind at 30 mph continues. The combined swell energy is strong at 3413. This is excellent for experienced surfers—over 8ft, so it’s for the skilled crew only. The afternoon gets even better: 10ft from the SSE, offshore NE wind at 20 mph, and energy hitting 3860. Conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers. Rock Island is a reef break, and with this long-period swell, it’ll be lined up and punchy. This is a true highlight.

Thursday the 6th of August still pumps. Morning sees 8ft from the S, moderate offshore NNE winds at 20 mph, and energy of 2588. That’s still strong. The afternoon turns a bit scratchy as the wind swings SE onshore at 15 mph, making things choppy at 8ft. The crowd at Rock Island is “sometimes,” so mid-week you might have it mostly to yourself.

Friday the 7th of August holds onto size but the wind is messy. The morning has 8ft S swell, cross-off ENE wind at 15 mph, and energy of 3208—still plenty of power. The afternoon gets a direct cross-shore SE wind at 20 mph that’ll chop it up. It’s a gear-shifter day.

Saturday the 8th of August drops a notch. Morning is 6ft from the SSW, light offshore NE wind at 10 mph, and clean. Energy is 1792, still moderate-strong. This is a great day for intermediates stepping down from the big stuff. Afternoon gets a cross-on S wind at 15 mph and gets lumpy.

From Sunday the 9th of August onward, the swell fades steadily. By Monday the 10th, it’s tiny with strong offshore wind at 40 mph that makes paddling hard. There’s a long flat spell from the 10th through to the 15th of August, with the odd knee-high wave and onshore winds at times. Not worth paddling out.

The run picks up again on Sunday the 16th of August with a new SE swell. 4ft from the SE, 13-second period, offshore NNE wind at 25 mph in the morning. Energy is 488. That’s surfable and clean. Then Monday the 17th of August looks promising: 4ft SE, 13 seconds, gentle offshore NE wind at 15 mph, and energy of 533. It’s a moderate, clean day for a longboard or fish.

After that, Tuesday the 18th of August drops back to small, ordinary surf. So overall, the clear winner is Wednesday the 5th of August—wind, swell, and direction all line up at Rock Island for the confident surfer.

Rusty.

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