
Surf Forecasts:
Rockaway surf forecast from 14 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 14 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s period, NW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 14 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, NW swell with 1,124 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 14 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 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 Monday (Sep 14) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 19s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Rockaway in the next 16 days are 2.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 14) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 17s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Mon 14th Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Mon 14th Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Mon 14th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rockaway over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's look at what's on the table for Rockaway.
Straight up, it’s a grim start. The first few days are a write-off. We’ve got clean conditions and some swell energy (223) on Sunday the 13th, but that’s a tiny 0.6m SW swell with onshore wind. Don’t even bother. Monday the 14th sees a jump to 7ft from the WNW with a 9-second period and a combined energy of 703, but the wind is onshore or cross-onshore all day, churning it into a mess. That size is pushing into expert-only territory anyway, but with that wind, it’s just a washing machine. Tuesday the 15th through to the 21st is a long, painful stretch of poor to marginal surf. The wind is almost always cross or cross-onshore, chopping up whatever small swell is running. It’s a solid week of frustrating conditions. You’re better off finding something else to do.
Now, there’s a glimmer. Tuesday the 22nd morning finally shows some promise. We’re looking at 5ft from the NW (8 secs) with a clean, cross-offshore wind. The combined energy is solid at 600. The notes say "expect very good surf conditions." This is the standout of the entire forecast period. The break at Rockaway is a consistent beach and reef setup, exposed to the NW, which is right in the pocket for this swell direction. It's an advanced wave at this size, so leave the foamies at home. Crowds are "sometimes" a thing here, but on a Tuesday morning with this quality, expect some company.
Wednesday the 23rd morning keeps the clean cross-offshore wind, with 5ft NW swell again, but the energy is pumping at 851. That’s got some real grunt. The afternoon gets messy as the wind swings cross-shore and the swell jumps to 6ft from the WNW with a 13-second period, which is a proper groundswell, but the cross-chop from a moderate breeze will take the shine off it.
Looking further out, the water temperature is 64°, which is a massive 5° warmer than normal for the time of year. That's very unusual, so you can leave the thick wetsuit at home. For a late September session on the 22nd, you’ll be surfing in boardshorts or a spring suit.
Thursday the 24th is marginal again with clean conditions but a smaller 5ft swell. Then from Friday the 25th through the weekend, it's back to poor, onshore conditions. There’s another small window on Sunday the 27th morning: 5ft NW swell with a 5 km/h cross-offshore wind and clean conditions. It’s not huge, but it’s rideable and clean, a decent little session before the wind picks up in the afternoon.
After that, it’s back to tiny, onshore slop right through to the end of the period on Monday the 28th, with gale-force winds by the afternoon.
So, the call is simple: if you want the best waves of this outlook, your window is Tuesday the 22nd morning. Wednesday the 23rd morning is a solid backup. Everything else is a gamble on a marginal day.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon morning, min 14°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Sun afternoon, calm by Mon morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 14°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | ||||||||||||||
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 6 | NW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | SW 21 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | NW 7 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
178 | 505 | 564 | 564 | 885 | 481 | 307 | 400 | 419 | 372 | 232 | 167 | 132 | 113 | 236 | 236 | 184 | 199 | 307 | 252 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 1:30AM2.03m | 1:15PM2.36m | 2:26AM1.90m | 1:50PM2.29m | 3:31AM1.78m | 2:30PM2.21m | 4:50AM1.71m | 3:18PM2.13m | 6:19AM1.70m | 4:19PM2.06m | 7:34AM1.75m | 5:29PM2.04m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:16PM0.53m | 7:05AM0.98m | 8:04PM0.54m | 7:41AM1.16m | 8:56PM0.58m | 8:21AM1.32m | 9:54PM0.63m | 9:10AM1.45m | 11:00PM0.67m | 10:19AM1.53m | 00:09AM0.66m | 11:45AM1.55m | 1:10AM0.63m | |||||||
— | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | |
7:21 | — | — | 7:19 | — | — | 7:17 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:12 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 |
Feels °C | 11 | 10 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 13 | WNW 9 | SW 17 | SW 17 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
87 | 85 | 564 | 107 | 107 | 481 | 307 | 400 | 419 | 372 | 232 | 167 | 132 | 98 | 51 | 236 | 184 | 199 | 307 | 252 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 17 | NW 11 | SSW 16 | WNW 10 | SW 15 | SW 19 | SSW 14 | NW 9 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 |
94 | 92 | 61 | 42 | 23 | 91 | 88 | 63 | 86 | 200 | 31 | 86 | 42 | 104 | 236 | 80 | 27 | 69 | 68 | 40 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | SW 18 | S 9 | WNW 15 | SW 12 | WNW 13 | SSW 19 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | SSW 17 | WNW 11 | SSW 16 | SW 21 | SSW 14 | S 11 | SSW 13 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 |
12 | 10 | 78 | 2 | 42 | 23 | 35 | 74 | 47 | 55 | 59 | 23 | 85 | 113 | 140 | 35 | 69 | 30 | 16 | 15 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 6 | NW 8 | — | WNW 9 | NW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 8 | NW 5 | WNW 6 | NW 6 | NW 7 |
178 | 505 | — | 564 | 885 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 65 | 42 | 55 | 105 | 208 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 86 | 12 | 19 | 84 | 22 | 22 | 61 | 0 | 61 | 84 | 22 | 22 | 61 | 37 | 22 | 86 | 22 | 22 | 86 | 74 |
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.










