Surf Forecasts:
Rockaway surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 8s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 8s period, NW swell with 274 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 8s period with WNW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Rockaway this week:
The surf forecast for Rockaway over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 19s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Rockaway in the next 16 days are 1.4m 8s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 15s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rockaway over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Rockaway.
Well, honestly, it’s a bit of a grim stretch ahead. The next week and a half is mostly a write-off. We’ve got a solid gap of poor conditions from Wednesday afternoon, August 19th, all the way through to the end of August. The wind is almost always cross-onshore, and the wave quality is just plain bad. The water is 62° – that’s much warmer than normal for this time of year, which is a weird little bonus if you just want a dip, but it won’t fix the surf.
The one bright spot in this whole 16-day window is a couple of mornings that are worth checking. The first real standout is the morning of Thursday, August 27th. Rockaway (New York) is going to see a 5ft NW swell with a short period of 7 seconds, and the wind is light and cross-offshore. That’s clean. The combined energy is moderate at 329. It’s not huge, but it’s rideable, and with the clean conditions, it’ll be the best you’ll get in this stretch. The second call is Tuesday, September 1st, in the morning. Same story: a 5ft NW swell, 8-second period, and light cross-offshore wind. Energy is 378. Again, clean and surfable. After that, the swell drops right off into the first week of September, with tiny, weak waves and messy wind.
There’s a morning on Friday, August 28th that shows a 6ft NW swell (610 energy), but the wind is cross-shore and the report says marginal – it’s pushing the size limit for a beach-and-reef setup with that short period, so it’s likely a bit of a closeout mess. Only for the experienced if you’re desperate.
So, bottom line: the first week is a bust. The best bets are the mornings of Thursday, August 27th and Tuesday, September 1st. Don’t get your hopes up for anything else.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | NW 7 | NW 7 | WNW 12 | NW 6 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 204 | 178 | 168 | 137 | 124 | 119 | 86 | 67 | 80 | 89 | 198 | 248 | 208 | 268 | 192 | 148 | 181 | 173 | 167 | 125 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 4:17PM2.20m | 6:40AM1.64m | 5:12PM2.16m | 8:03AM1.68m | 6:13PM2.16m | 9:01AM1.75m | 7:11PM2.19m | 9:42AM1.81m | 8:03PM2.26m | 10:14AM1.88m | 8:50PM2.32m | 10:43AM1.94m | 9:32PM2.37m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:49PM0.71m | 10:48AM1.42m | 00:55AM0.66m | 12:02PM1.49m | 1:54AM0.59m | 1:13PM1.49m | 2:43AM0.50m | 2:11PM1.45m | 3:25AM0.42m | 2:58PM1.38m | 4:01AM0.36m | 3:40PM1.29m | 4:34AM0.33m | |||||||
 |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — |
 | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:49 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | SW 15 | NW 7 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | NW 7 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 7 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 204 | 226 | 168 | 137 | 121 | 119 | 86 | 58 | 56 | 33 | 198 | 248 | 208 | 268 | 192 | 147 | 109 | 75 | 167 | 125 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | WNW 11 | WNW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 17 | SW 17 | S 13 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 283 | 133 | 142 | 180 | 183 | 123 | 68 | 68 | 68 | 66 | 37 | 130 | 114 | 120 | 120 | 163 | 181 | 173 | 87 | 54 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 12 | — | SSW 14 | SW 19 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 18 | WSW 18 | SW 21 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 16 | W 14 |
| kJ | 119 | — | 170 | 15 | 15 | 51 | 49 | 30 | 17 | 76 | 48 | 29 | 84 | 113 | 157 | 148 | 102 | 99 | 75 | 66 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 7 | — | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 7 | NW 6 |
| kJ | — | 178 | — | 120 | 124 | 83 | 41 | 67 | 80 | 89 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 59 | 80 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 84 | 22 | 22 | 84 | 74 | 84 | 86 | 74 | 22 | 86 | 22 | 22 | 61 | 22 | 22 | 84 | 22 | 22 | 61 | 19 |
Best forecast wave conditions in San Mateo | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Rockaway Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Rockaway provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Rockaway can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Rockaway surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Rockaway) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Rockaway may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Rockaway is 1 km (1 miles) from Pacifica. If you plan a vacation in San Mateo, look for hotels and other accommodation in Pacifica. Pacifica has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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