Rock Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

First things first – the water temp’s sittin’ around 74°, which is pretty much average for this time of year. Nothin' wild there.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start. Sunday the 5th is a total write-off with tiny, weak swell and choppy onshore junk. You’re better off waxin’ your board or stayin’ in bed. Monday the 6th shows a little glimmer of hope with a morning sesh – 4ft of SE swell, cross-off wind, and clean surf. The energy’s moderate (256), and it’s just enough to get a few fun ones. Nothin’ to write home about, but it’s surfable.

Now, Tuesday the 7th is where it starts to get interestin’. The morning is marginal with offshore wind but only 2ft, so it’s small and clean. But the afternoon? That’s the first real standout. Clean, offshore winds with a 3ft SSE swell and a very healthy 14-second period. The combined energy jumps to 613 (moderate), and that longer period means proper groundswell lines. The south swell direction is right on Rock Island’s optimum from the S, so expect nice, well-shaped waves. Crowds can pop up here sometimes, so keep your eyes peeled.

Wednesday the 8th morning is the absolute pick of the bunch for this whole run. We’re talkin’ 6ft of SSE swell with a 17-second period – that’s a very long-period groundswell. Combined energy is a hefty 1843, strong and powerful. Clean conditions with cross-off breeze. This is excellent, expert-level surf – over 5ft, so beginners might find it a handful. The long period means it’ll break a bit straight on the beach, but Rock Island is a reef setup, so it should handle that beautifully. If you’ve got the skills, this is your session. The afternoon turns onshore and messy, so get out early.

Thursday the 9th morning is glassy – perfect conditions – with 5ft of S swell at 15 seconds. Energy is still strong (1349). Another excellent session for experienced surfers. Clean, lined-up, and glassy. That’s a rare combo.

From Friday the 10th onward, the swell kicks up but the wind turns onshore. 7ft on Friday morning, 7ft on Saturday – these are big, powerful swells (energy over 2300). But the wind’s all wrong, blowin’ straight onshore, killin’ the shape. This is more of a kite-surfing setup than paddle-surfing. Unless you’re a seasoned charger lookin’ for a beatdown, steer clear.

By Sunday the 12th, the swell drops back under 5ft, but the wind stays messy. The rest of the second week is a slow fade – Monday the 13th has a small clean window in the morning with 3ft and offshore wind, but after that it’s mostly tiny, weak, and onshore. From around the 14th right through to the 20th, it’s a long stretch of poor conditions. The combined energy dips below 200 most days, and swell sizes hover below 2ft. Not worth gettin’ wet for.

So to sum it up: Wednesday morning the 8th is your absolute standout – big, clean, powerful, and well-shaped. Thursday morning the 9th is a close second with glassy perfection. After that, it’s a slow fade into flatness. Get it while it’s good.

Rusty.

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