Rockaway Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s break this down. It’s been a rough run of wind and swell here, with the only reliable spot seeing a lot of trashy surf until way out in the forecast.

First chance to get wet is the morning of Wednesday, July 8th. We’ve got a nice, long-period groundswell from the SW, about 3ft with a 17-second period. Lot of energy behind it – combined swell energy reads 1396 (moderate to strong). But the wind is cross-onshore from the west at 9 mph, so the surface is going to be a bit bumpy. Not a total loss, but not the clean stuff you’d want for a proper session. The water temp is 62°F, which is about 6°F warmer than average – that’s a pretty wild anomaly.

From Thursday, July 9th, all the way through Tuesday, July 22nd, it’s a long slog of NW windswell. Heights are mostly in that 7ft to 10ft range, but the period is short at 8 to 9 seconds. Combined swell energy bounces around from 629 to 1480. The problem is the wind: nearly every day it’s cross-onshore from the west or WNW at 9 to 15 mph, sometimes stronger. That’s going to leave Rockaway looking choppy and blown out. At that size, it’s too big for beginners, and with that chop it’s just messy. For a beach-and-reef break, that combo is more interesting for kite surfers than guys on a shortboard. This run of poor conditions lasts for nearly two full weeks.

Finally, we get a break in the clouds. On Thursday, July 23rd , things shape up. The swell drops to a clean 6ft from the NW with an 8-second period. The wind shifts to the SW at 9 mph, turning it cross-offshore for Rockaway, and the notes say it will be clean. That is your target. Combined swell energy is down to 388, but clean, 6ft waves at a consistent spot are worth the wait. This place does see crowds sometimes, so if that clean window holds, get in there early.

So, it’s a long, bleak stretch of onshore junk until that one bright, clean morning on the 23rd. That’s the one to wait for.

- Rusty

Read more