Surf Forecasts:
Rockaway surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 8s period, NW swell with 717 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Rockaway this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Rockaway in the next 16 days are 2.4m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 18s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rockaway over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at the next couple of weeks for Rockaway. The outlook is a bit of a mixed bag, with a long stretch of pretty ordinary surf before a couple of sessions that might just be worth paddling out for.
The first solid week is a bit of a write-off for anything decent. We’ve got a long gap from Monday, August 24th, all the way through until the end of the month where the surf is just not worth your time. The swell is small, with crap conditions and onshore winds messing everything up. It’s a real struggle.
Things start to look a tiny bit more promising at the very end of the first week into September. On Wednesday the 2nd of September, we get a bit of a bump in swell, but it's still cross-on and messy. The real shot of good conditions comes on Thursday the 3rd of September. The morning is the standout. The wind goes glassy, and with a 5.2ft swell from the NW, it’ll be clean. The combined energy is moderate (657), and the period is 8 seconds, so it’s not a groundswell but it’s a proper little window. This is the best on offer, but it’s only a morning session as the wind shifts later in the day.
After that, we get some more size, but the wind messes it up. Friday the 4th of September has a solid 6.2ft NW swell, and the combined energy is strong (1072), but the wind is cross and the forecast is marginal. The 5th of September is a similar story with a 7.2ft swell, but it’s cross-on and then strong onshore in the afternoon. This is getting into the territory where it’s too big for beginners and only for the experienced crew. The real kicker is Sunday the 6th of September, with a 7.9ft NW swell and a period of 11 seconds. The combined energy is very strong (1313), but it’s a beach and reef setup here, and with a long period swell like that, it’ll be breaking straight and the cross-shore wind will chop it up. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
The final highlight is Monday the 7th of September. The morning is glassy again, with a 4.9ft NW swell. The combined energy is moderate (342). It’s a clean, well-shaped wave in the morning, but it fades quickly. The water temperature is about average for this time of year.
So, mark your calendar for the morning of Thursday the 3rd and Monday the 7th. The rest is a waiting game.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed night, min 13°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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 8 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NW 8 | SW 16 | NW 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 164 | 155 | 148 | 181 | 173 | 165 | 125 | 159 | 157 | 263 | 162 | 188 | 373 | 251 | 175 | 332 | 382 | 395 | 717 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 8:03PM2.26m | 10:14AM1.88m | 8:50PM2.32m | 10:43AM1.94m | 9:32PM2.37m | 11:10AM2.01m | 10:14PM2.39m | 11:36AM2.08m | 10:55PM2.36m | 12:01PM2.15m | 11:38PM2.29m | 12:27PM2.22m | 00:23AM2.19m | ||||||
Low Tide | 3:25AM0.42m | 2:58PM1.38m | 4:01AM0.36m | 3:40PM1.29m | 4:34AM0.33m | 4:21PM1.19m | 5:06AM0.35m | 5:01PM1.08m | 5:36AM0.41m | 5:42PM0.96m | 6:06AM0.52m | 6:25PM0.85m | |||||||
 |  | | | | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — |
 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 7 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | S 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SW 17 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 16 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 164 | 133 | 96 | 181 | 173 | 165 | 85 | 159 | 157 | 157 | 139 | 125 | 88 | 235 | 380 | 319 | 637 | 395 | 532 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 13 | SW 16 | W 13 | S 14 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 |
| kJ | 120 | 120 | 163 | 102 | 99 | 87 | 125 | 85 | 103 | 137 | 74 | 74 | 167 | 85 | 53 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 17 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | WNW 10 | W 16 | W 16 | W 15 | SSW 12 | W 13 | W 12 | SW 18 | W 11 | W 10 | W 11 | SW 13 | SW 14 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 |
| kJ | 113 | 155 | 148 | 10 | 21 | 45 | 38 | 49 | 53 | 45 | 84 | 39 | 32 | 35 | 62 | 54 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | WNW 7 | NW 7 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NW 8 | WNW 7 | NW 8 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 96 | 69 | 35 | 116 | 72 | 139 | 263 | 162 | 188 | 373 | 251 | 175 | 332 | 382 | 250 | 717 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 22 | 22 | 84 | 12 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 84 | 58 | 22 | 84 | 75 | 22 | 84 | 22 | 22 | 84 | 22 |
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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