Surf Forecasts:
Rockaway surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 14 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 8s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 14 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, NW swell with 1,149 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 14 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 8s period with WNW 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 2.0m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 13s. 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 16s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Mon 14th Sep) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Mon 14th Sep) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 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 folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at what’s coming our way for the next 16 days for Rockaway. Gotta be straight with you – this forecast is a mixed bag and there’s no real standout period with clean, cracking waves.
The opening stretch is a dud, honestly. Saturday the 12th through most of the first week is hammered by onshore and cross-onshore winds, giving us cruddy, choppy conditions. We see some energy, with swell heights around 5ft to 6ft and moderate combined energy (between 317 and 655), but the wind just wrecks it. Not worth paddling out for the most part.
We finally get a bit of a break on Wednesday morning, the 16th. The Rockaway (beach and reef) picks up a clean, 5ft NW swell with a light SSW cross-off breeze. The combined energy is moderate at 427 – not pumping, but the clean conditions make it the only real window for a surf. That window is short-lived though; the afternoon goes back to junk.
There’s a gap of about six days with no proper recommendations, until we hit Wednesday, the 23rd. That morning, the wind switches to a light SSW cross-off again, and the surf is described as clean. The swell is only a 2ft SW groundswell with a long period of 16 seconds, but energy is moderate (433). It’s small, but it’s clean. The long period will make it a bit shifty on the beach break, but for a patient surfer on a log or a fish, that morning session could be glassy gold.
The tail end of the window on Sunday the 27th shows a bigger, more powerful NW swell pushing 8ft with a very long period of 11 seconds and strong energy (1600). This is solidly in the expert zone – too big for most. But the wind is a cross-onshore NNE breeze at 9 mph, making it a fairly choppy and demanding prospect. Hard to recommend for a fun session.
Honestly, the highlights are scarce. The Wednesday morning sessions on the 16th and the 23rd offer the only real clean windows. For the rest, you’re fighting the wind. Don’t get your hopes up too high for anything magic.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon morning, min 14°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Sun afternoon, calm by Mon morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue afternoon, min 13°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SW 15 | SW 14 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 7 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 9 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 9 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 301 | 251 | 240 | 221 | 181 | 278 | 465 | 516 | 541 | 1011 | 522 | 383 | 439 | 338 | 224 | 211 | 135 | 95 | 104 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 11:47PM2.31m | 12:10PM2.41m | 00:37AM2.18m | 12:42PM2.40m | 1:30AM2.03m | 1:15PM2.36m | 2:26AM1.90m | 1:50PM2.29m | 3:31AM1.78m | 2:30PM2.21m | 4:50AM1.71m | 3:18PM2.13m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:55AM0.59m | 6:29PM0.57m | 6:30AM0.78m | 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 | |||||||
 |  | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — |
 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — | — | 7:19 | — | — | 7:17 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:15 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 19 | 19 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 |
Feels °C | 13 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WNW 9 | SW 17 | SW 17 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 9 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 |
| kJ | 301 | 251 | 203 | 158 | 113 | 87 | 85 | 516 | 107 | 107 | 522 | 383 | 439 | 338 | 224 | 211 | 135 | 95 | 80 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 15 | WSW 13 | WNW 11 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 17 | WNW 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 |
| kJ | 72 | 60 | 47 | 29 | 23 | 94 | 92 | 61 | 42 | 23 | 91 | 88 | 63 | 89 | 200 | 47 | 86 | 164 | 104 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | WNW 12 | WSW 13 | WSW 21 | S 10 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | SW 18 | SW 9 | WNW 15 | SW 12 | WNW 13 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | WNW 12 | SSW 17 | WNW 11 | NW 10 | NW 10 |
| kJ | 8 | 28 | 34 | 42 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 78 | 3 | 42 | 23 | 35 | 74 | 120 | 28 | 59 | 46 | 53 | 25 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 7 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 7 | — | WNW 9 | NW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 255 | 175 | 240 | 221 | 181 | 278 | 465 | — | 541 | 1011 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 51 | 84 | 86 | 83 | 84 | 86 | 14 | 19 | 84 | 22 | 22 | 84 | 0 | 0 | 66 | 0 | 22 | 86 | 7 |
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.
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