Rockaway Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right now, the ocean’s got a bit of a split personality, so let’s break it down for Rockaway. It’s a beach and reef setup, exposed to that NW groundswell, and water temps are sitting at 63°F, which is a solid 5°F warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s a real treat for your toes.

The first few days are pretty grim, honestly. Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday are looking at weak, short-period WNW swells around 5 to 6 feet, and that cross-onshore wind is just chopping everything up. The combined energy is moderate – in the 300 to 500 range – but the quality is poor. You’d be fighting it. Thursday morning cleans up slightly with a light cross-off breeze and a smaller 4 feet, but even then, it’s not setting the world on fire.

Then we hit a flat spell. Friday and Saturday drop right off – we’re talking 2 feet of weak, long-period SW swell that’s too weak to do anything, and the wind is either onshore or firing straight at it. That window from Friday morning through Saturday afternoon is essentially a write-off for surf.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Sunday the 20th sees a bump in size – 6 to 7 feet from the NW – and the energy jumps into the 800s. But the wind is cross-onshore again, so it’s going to be lumpy. Monday the 21st is your first real *maybe* – still 5 to 6 feet NW, but with a light cross-shore in the morning. That’s your best bet of this first week, but it’s marginal.

The real standout, and the one I’d circle, is Tuesday the 30th. The swell holds at 7 feet from the NW, but the period stretches out a touch to 9 seconds, and that combined energy cranks way up to 1001 – that’s strong, powerful surf for here. The morning is clean with a light NW onshore, but it’s still a bit of an onshore angle, so expect some push. This is advanced territory – at 7 feet, it’s getting hollow and difficult, definitely not one for beginners. Before that, the Monday the 29th morning also has 7 feet NW, but it’s messier.

The long-range stuff around the 25th to 27th is mostly small and junky – 2 to 3 feet with strong onshore winds, so that’s a hard pass.

Rockaway (New York) – the best on offer in this window is the morning of Tuesday the 30th: 7 feet NW at 9 seconds, with strong energy (1001) and a light wind. It’s big, heavy, and only for experts. If that doesn’t light you up, Monday the 21st morning is a more moderate alternative at 6 feet NW, but it’ll be less clean.

The rest is a waiting game. The lake effect isn’t here – this is ocean groundswell – but the short periods early on (8 seconds) are not going to shape up well. Once those periods stretch past 11 seconds later in the month, it’ll be better for the points and reefs, but Rockaway is a beach and reef mix, so long-period NW swells can close out. Keep an eye out.

All in all, don’t force it on the sloppy days. Wait for that Tuesday the 30th to be the one.

Rusty

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