Rockaway Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again. Let's run through the same 16-day window for Rockaway, but in the old-school numbers.

We've got a bit of a waiting game on our hands. The first decent sniff of surf won't be until Sunday the 2nd of August, and even then, it's a mixed bag. The water is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, with temps sitting at 61°.

The main event looks like it'll be a solid pulse of north-west swell that rolls in from Sunday the 2nd of August. The combined energy of all swells directed here is a solid 1146 (moderate wave energy), with swell heights hitting 8.2ft and a period of 9 seconds. That's a lot of water, but the wind is light and cross-shore on Sunday morning, keeping things reasonably clean. That's the standout for the whole period. However, don't get too excited if you're a beginner – 8.2ft is expert territory. The north-west direction is exactly what this spot wants to see.

The rest of the first week is a bit of a letdown. Monday the 3rd of August morning has a clean 7.2ft WNW swell, with cross-offshore winds, but the energy is already dropping. After that, it's a slow slide into smaller, choppier conditions. By the end of the week, we're looking at tiny 1.6ft swell, with a very long 19-second period on Friday the 7th – that's groundswell, but it'll be breaking straight on a beach break with onshore winds, so forget about it.

The second week has a few glimmers. Sunday the 9th of August sees a return of 8.2ft NW swell, but the wind is cross-on, so it'll be chopped up. The real potential is on Monday the 10th of August morning: 7.9ft WNW swell, cross-offshore wind, and clean. The energy is high (1091). That's a solid session for the experts. Tuesday the 11th of August morning has 8.2ft NW swell, but it's a little messy again. After that, the swell drops and the wind gets ugly, so we're just waiting for the next pulse.

The biggest issue here is the crowds – Rockaway can get packed, and with the good swells, expect it to be buzzing. Also, the second half of the week sees some super long-period swells (15-19 seconds) which will be tricky on a beach break; they'll be walled up and hard to read.

If you're an expert, the Sunday the 2nd of August morning is the clear winner. The Monday the 10th of August morning is the next best bet – it's a bit further out, so keep an eye on the forecast. For everyone else, the first few days of the first week have some manageable 4.6ft clean waves on Tuesday the 4th of August morning, but it's not a socks-off session.

That's the story from here. Keep your eyes on the horizon.

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