Rockaway Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a flat spell. The start of the period isn’t offering much worth paddling out for. Monday the 31st and Tuesday the 1st are write-offs with poor conditions and weak, short-period windswell. Honestly, you’re better off waxing your board at home. We’re looking at a gap of a couple of days before anything really worthwhile shows up.

The real story begins to unfold around Wednesday the 3rd of September. The morning shows some potential at Rockaway, even though it’s not a classic. We’ve got a long-period, 19-second groundswell from the southwest – that’s some serious energy moving through, with a combined energy of 430 (moderate). The swell is tiny, only 2ft, but that long period means it could wrap in and offer some shape. The light cross-shore wind will keep it reasonably clean, but with a 19-second period, the sets will be very spaced out. On the plus side, water temp is sitting at 62°F, which is a touch warmer than average for this time of year, so you won’t need the thickest wetsuit.

Friday the 5th of September morning is a standout. A clean, 4ft swell from the NW with a 10-second period, but the real winner here is the wind. We’ve got a light southerly that’s cross-offshore, meaning the faces will be smooth and clean. The combined energy is 281 (moderate), and it’s a solid, surfable wave. This is the best call for a beginner-friendly window.

Now, for the more experienced crew, keep an eye on the morning of Thursday the 11th of September. This one is a serious contender. The swell is a solid 7ft from the WNW with a 10-second period, pumping moderate to strong energy (1002). That’s getting up there in size, so this one is for the advanced surfers only. The wind is light and cross-offshore from the SSW, which should put a nice wall on it. This is the pick of the whole outlook for those with the skills to handle it.

Beyond that, the second week is a bit of a mixed bag. The 14th and 15th of September offer consistent 6-6ft NW/WNW swell, but the wind tends to be cross or cross-onshore, keeping the quality just average. It’s surfable but nothing to write home about. We’re back to marginal conditions, so don't get your hopes up too high.

So, to sum it up: the first few days are dead. The clean, beginner-friendly window is Friday the 5th morning. The big-gun session for the experienced crew is Thursday the 11th morning. Everything else is just filler.

Stay patient, and keep an eye on the forecast.

Rusty.

Read more