Rockaway Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way.

Straight up, the next week and a half is a tough one for Rockaway. The surf is small, the wind is all wrong, and the conditions are mostly messy. You’re looking at a long stretch of poor to marginal surf with only a few moments that might be worth a paddle. The water temperature is 60° – that’s a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t need a thick suit.

The first real chance of anything decent doesn’t show up until Monday the 27th of July. That morning, we’ve got a 4 ft swell from the SW with a long period of 18 seconds (groundswell) and a combined energy of 1277 – that’s strong wave energy. The wind is light cross-onshore, so it’s not clean, but it’s manageable. That afternoon, the swell jumps to 8 ft from the NW, but the period drops to 8 seconds and the wind is moderate cross-onshore, so it’s going to be a bit of a washing machine. Tuesday the 28th of July morning sees 8 ft from the NW, period of 8 seconds, light cross-onshore wind – that’s better for a more experienced surfer than a beginner. 8 ft is getting into expert territory. The energy is strong (1529). Wednesday the 29th of July is similar – 8 ft from the NW, period of 9 seconds, moderate cross-onshore wind. The run from Monday the 27th to Wednesday the 29th is your best window overall, but conditions are still marginal due to the wind.

The standout for the whole period? It’s a tough call, but I’d say the Tuesday morning of the 28th of July. The swell is solid 8 ft from the NW, period is short at 8 seconds though, and the wind is light cross-onshore. The energy is powerful (1529). It’s not perfect, but it’s the least messy in that window. The break is a beach and reef setup, so that short period will make it a bit steep and fast – more for the crew who know what they’re doing. Crowds are possible here, so don’t expect to have it to yourself.

The second week, from the 31st of July onward, the swell drops back to 5 ft to 8 ft range, mostly from the NW, with periods of 8 to 10 seconds. Winds are still cross to cross-onshore. The best chance in that later stretch might be Monday the 3rd of August morning – 8 ft from the NW, period of 9 seconds, light cross-shore wind, and an energy of 1080. It’s a marginal call, but it’s the pick of the later days. Tuesday the 4th of August morning also looks okay: 8 ft from the NW, period of 10 seconds, light cross-shore wind, energy of 1082.

Overall, it’s a long wait for anything that’s not a struggle. The first proper surfable days are a week away. The best of the best is that Tuesday the 28th of July morning, but don’t expect perfection. It’s a grind out there.

Rusty.

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