
Surf Forecasts:
Rockaway surf forecast from 4 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 4 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s period, NW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 10 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 10s period, NW swell with 1,337 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 4 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s period with NW 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 Tuesday (Aug 04) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 8s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Rockaway in the next 16 days are 2.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) 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 18s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 08) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Tue 4th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Tue 4th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rockaway over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the table for Rockaway. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, to be honest. The first week and a half is pretty ordinary, with a lot of poor conditions and marginal surf. The real standout that’s worth getting excited about is further down the track, but we have to wade through some average days first.
For Tuesday morning, August 4th, we’ve got clear skies and a gentle cross-shore breeze. The swell’s coming from the NW at 5 ft with a period of 9 seconds, which is a solid short-period windswell. The water temperature is sitting at 61°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so that’s a nice little bonus. However, the forecast is saying the surf is questionable with the tide, and the combined wave energy is moderate (383). The afternoon gets worse, turning poor and choppy. The rest of the week stays in this rough pattern.
Wednesday morning, August 5th, the swell drops right back to 3 ft, but it’s still cross-shore wind. It’s marginal at best. Thursday and Friday are a real write-off, with tiny 2 ft swells and cross-onshore winds creating chop. The energy is weak (108 to 172). Saturday, August 8th, sees a slight bump up to 4 ft from the NW, but it’s still cross-onshore and choppy, so not a good look.
Now, Sunday, August 9th, is where things start to get interesting. The swell jumps to 7 ft from the NW in the morning, and the combined energy kicks up to strong (607). The afternoon sees it peak at 7 ft with energy hitting very strong (1420). The problem is the wind is cross-onshore and gets up to a moderate breeze, so the surface is going to be choppy. This is expert territory – 7 ft is too big for beginners – but the wind is going to spoil it.
Monday, August 10th, and Tuesday, August 11th, keep the swell solid at over 7 ft from the NW, but again, the wind is cross-shore at best and cross-onshore in the afternoons, making it messy. The energy is strong (645 to 905) in the mornings, but the quality isn’t there.
There’s a gap of a few days of tiny, poor surf from Wednesday, August 13th, through to Saturday, August 16th, with swells barely reaching 2 ft from the SW. The period gets long (up to 19 seconds) but with no size, it’s not doing anything.
The absolute best chance of a decent wave comes on Monday, August 17th. The morning session is the standout. We’re looking at a clean, cross-offshore wind with a 4 ft swell from the NW. The period is a short 8 seconds, but the conditions will be clean and the combined energy is moderate (274). The forecast actually says “expect good surf conditions,” which is a rare bit of good news in this run. The afternoon gets a bit more cross-shore and choppy, so hit it early. Tuesday, August 18th, is similar with cross-shore winds and marginal conditions, but Wednesday, August 19th, the wind goes fully offshore from the NW for the morning with 4 ft swell. That could be clean but the forecast suggests it’s marginal with the tide.
So, to be straight with you, the pick of the 16 days is the morning of Monday, August 17th at Rockaway. It’s a strike of clean conditions with that cross-offshore wind and a rideable 4 ft NW swell. The crowds are possible there, so you’ll have some company for that one. Everything else in this run is either too small, too windy, or too messy to get excited about.
Stay patient, and don’t sell the farm for anything until that 17th.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri morning, min 11°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 17 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 8 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
323 | 235 | 179 | 103 | 145 | 94 | 85 | 84 | 84 | 82 | 80 | 135 | 171 | 132 | 398 | 607 | 788 | 1228 | 842 | 673 | 971 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 3:31PM2.27m | 4:28AM1.67m | 4:15PM2.32m | 6:04AM1.61m | 5:09PM2.37m | 7:38AM1.66m | 6:10PM2.44m | 8:51AM1.75m | 7:14PM2.53m | 9:44AM1.86m | 8:16PM2.62m | 10:29AM1.97m | 9:14PM2.69m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:54AM0.96m | 10:27PM0.82m | 9:35AM1.14m | 11:38PM0.67m | 10:29AM1.29m | 00:48AM0.51m | 11:39AM1.40m | 1:53AM0.33m | 12:57PM1.44m | 2:50AM0.17m | 2:09PM1.39m | 3:41AM0.05m | 3:12PM1.30m | 4:28AM-0.01m | |||||||
6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | |
— | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:07 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | SSW 19 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 8 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 |
323 | 235 | 179 | 103 | 145 | 94 | 71 | 47 | 47 | 26 | 246 | 108 | 171 | 132 | 398 | 607 | 612 | 1228 | 842 | 673 | 971 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | NW 8 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 17 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 |
60 | 56 | 39 | 71 | 70 | 32 | 85 | 84 | 84 | 82 | 80 | 135 | 270 | 200 | 226 | 220 | 146 | 142 | 136 | 123 | 101 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 15 | NW 10 | SW 11 | SW 14 | NW 8 | NW 8 | SW 18 | SSW 19 | S 11 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WNW 10 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 20 | SW 20 | SW 19 |
37 | 36 | 33 | 27 | 19 | 69 | 16 | 9 | 81 | 136 | 9 | 83 | 34 | 35 | 60 | 36 | 20 | 24 | 63 | 98 | 96 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 9 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 77 | — | — | — | — | — | 788 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 120 | 0 | 7 | 66 | 0 | 22 | 61 | 37 | 209 | 299 | 22 | 61 | 299 | 22 | 22 | 397 | 61 | 241 | 84 | 63 |
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.











