Surf Forecasts:
Rockaway surf forecast from 3 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 3 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 18s period, SW swell with 465 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Rockaway this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Rockaway in the next 16 days are 0.9m 18s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 03) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 16s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 05) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rockaway over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk Rockaway. It’s a mixed bag, so here’s the straight dope.
Starting Thursday the 3rd, there’s a bit of clean surf in the morning. Swell is tiny at 0.6m out of the southwest, with a very long 19-second period, giving it some energy for its size (combined energy 498). Wind is a light cross-off from the SSW, making for glassy conditions, but the wave comment says it’s marginal. Water temp is 16°, a touch warmer than usual.
Then it gets quiet. From Friday the 4th through Wednesday the 16th, it’s mostly a bust. Onshore to cross-onshore winds ruin nearly every session. There’s a gap of almost two weeks with no real recommendations.
Now, a bright spot. Monday the 14th of September in the morning looks like the standout. We see 1.2m swell from the northwest, period 9 seconds, and combined energy at 419. The wind is a light cross-off from the SSW at just 5 km/h. That’s clean, workable surf. Rockaway is a beach and reef setup, exposed to the NW swell. This is your best bet.
Other days tease but don’t deliver. Saturday the 12th has 1.4m from the west, but the cross-on wind ruins it. The 18th of September has some long-period SW energy building (0.9m at 13 seconds, then 0.8m at 19 seconds in the afternoon), with energy jumping into the 900s. The wind is light cross-shore, so it might be okay, but it’s still marginal.
Bottom line: if you can get out Monday morning the 14th, that’s your window. The rest is mostly choppy and blown out. Rockaway is consistent, but the forecast isn’t kind this time.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu afternoon, min 14°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SW 19 | WNW 9 | SW 18 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 6 | NW 6 | SW 14 | NW 6 | NW 7 | WNW 6 | SW 19 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 17 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 296 | 329 | 465 | 382 | 382 | 370 | 269 | 247 | 120 | 97 | 182 | 200 | 98 | 99 | 128 | 106 | 85 | 133 | 94 | 284 | 297 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 3:37PM2.34m | 6:16AM1.69m | 4:42PM2.34m | 7:38AM1.76m | 5:56PM2.36m | 8:36AM1.87m | 7:08PM2.42m | 9:21AM1.98m | 8:13PM2.47m | 9:58AM2.10m | 9:11PM2.50m | 10:33AM2.21m | 10:05PM2.48m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:10AM1.34m | 11:16PM0.50m | 10:19AM1.45m | 00:29AM0.42m | 11:47AM1.48m | 1:35AM0.32m | 1:10PM1.42m | 2:31AM0.23m | 2:18PM1.29m | 3:19AM0.19m | 3:16PM1.13m | 4:02AM0.21m | 4:07PM0.95m | 4:42AM0.28m | |||||||
 |  |  | | |  | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |  | | |
 | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — |
 | — | 7:36 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:27 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 |
Feels °C | 15 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | S 14 | S 14 | NW 6 | S 14 | NW 6 | S 13 | S 12 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 12 |
| kJ | 202 | 329 | 386 | 382 | 382 | 370 | 269 | 247 | 387 | 377 | 329 | 368 | 98 | 432 | 128 | 483 | 233 | 490 | 347 | 247 | 232 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 11 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | NW 9 | NW 9 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | S 14 | SW 14 | S 13 | NW 7 | SSW 15 | SW 19 | NW 7 | SW 19 | SW 17 |
| kJ | 134 | 86 | 465 | 541 | 481 | 808 | 430 | 419 | 120 | 97 | 272 | 211 | 407 | 99 | 511 | 106 | 246 | 133 | 36 | 284 | 297 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | SW 15 | S 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSE 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | S 14 | SSW 11 | SW 10 | SSW 14 | SW 10 | SW 12 | SW 18 | SW 18 | WNW 10 | SW 16 | SSW 13 | WNW 11 |
| kJ | 296 | 181 | 51 | 98 | 93 | 36 | 123 | 115 | 78 | 200 | 46 | 24 | 134 | 15 | 23 | 49 | 50 | 20 | 94 | 35 | 12 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | WNW 3 | — | — | WNW 3 | NW 5 | WNW 5 | NW 9 | NW 6 | — | NW 6 | — | — | WNW 6 | NW 6 | — | NW 7 | NW 4 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 5 | 33 | 20 | 182 | 200 | — | 98 | — | — | 85 | 61 | — | 29 | 11 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 97 | 61 | 37 | 37 | 488 | 51 | 22 | 86 | 37 | 451 | 86 | 58 | 25 | 86 | 37 | 61 | 86 | 51 | 22 | 84 | 37 |
Best forecast wave conditions in San Mateo | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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