Rockaway Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s at Rockaway. This is a beach and reef setup, exposed to the swell, and it’s a consistent spot that can handle a good push. The water is sitting at 61°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – nothing crazy, but you’ll feel it’s a little more comfortable than usual.

The first real shout comes Monday morning, August 3rd. We’ve got a solid 7ft swell rolling in from the WNW with a period of 10 seconds, and the wind is a cross-off from the SSW at 9 mph. That’s clean, that’s got energy (996), and it’s looking like the best session on offer. The waves will have shape, the surface will be glassy, and it’s a good size for advanced surfers. This is the standout – don’t miss it.

After that, things drop off quickly. Tuesday and Wednesday (August 4th and 5th) see the swell shrink fast, down to 5ft and then 3ft, with cross-shore winds and a bit of chop. The energy drops into the low hundreds (383, then 204). It’s not worth paddling out for. Thursday through Saturday (August 6th to 8th) is even worse – tiny 2ft to 4ft swell, cross-onshore winds, and the wave comment says it all. You’re looking at a real dry spell of about 4 to 5 days with nothing worth getting wet for.

Sunday August 9th brings a pulse back – 8ft from the NW, but the wind is cross-onshore and there’s a lot of chop. The energy is high (926) but the quality is poor. Monday August 10th and Tuesday August 11th keep the size up (8ft to 10ft), but the wind stays cross-onshore or cross, with moderate chop. This is big, powerful swell (energy over 1000, up to 1489), but it’s messy. For expert surfers only, and honestly, the conditions are marginal. The period is short (8 to 9 seconds), so it’s not the clean groundswell you’d hope for.

The pattern continues with a few days of 7ft to 8ft swell and cross-onshore winds from Wednesday August 12th to Friday August 14th. The energy is still there (596 to 1072), but the surface is choppy. It’s not a write-off, but it’s not the kind of session you’d tell your mates about.

Then, on Saturday August 15th, we get a surprise. The morning shows a clean 3ft swell from the SW with a very long period of 17 seconds, light cross-off wind from the SSW at 9 mph. The energy is 720 – moderate, but the quality is high. The water is clean. This is a classic groundswell, better suited to the reef setup here – the waves will have shape and power, even if they’re not huge. It’s a promising little window, but it’s two weeks out, so keep an eye on the forecast.

Sunday August 16th stays small but clean, with a 2ft to 5ft swell and light winds. Not a standout. Monday August 17th sees another pulse of 8ft to 10ft from the NW, but again with cross-onshore wind and chop. The energy is strong (1066 and 1173), but the conditions are marginal. Tuesday August 18th fades out with 6ft and a short period, cross-onshore wind.

Best bet: Monday morning, August 3rd. That’s the one. After that, the long-range Saturday August 15th morning is a dark horse – clean, groundswell, but it’s a ways off.

Rusty.

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