Rockaway Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get real about Rockaway. We’ve got a long 16-day window ahead, and I’ll be honest with you—it’s gonna be a grind. The first solid recommendation doesn’t pop up until the tail end of the month, so you’re looking at a big gap of poor conditions before anything even gets close to rideable.

Rockaway (beach and reef) is the only game in town, and it’s exposed to the NW swell, which is what we’re getting. The optimum swell direction is from the NW, so that’s a point in our favor, but the wind is the real problem. For the first week and a half, it’s a constant cross-onshore mess. Tuesday the 18th through to Saturday the 23rd is pretty much a write-off. Swell is tiny, wind is junk, and the wave comment says it all: poor surf. The combined energy is weak to moderate (104–428), but it doesn’t matter because it’s just choppy and ugly.

There’s a tiny flicker of hope on Monday the 24th morning. The swell drops to 2ft from the SW, but the period jumps to 18 seconds—that’s a long-period groundswell. The wind is light and cross-shore, so it could be glassy and clean. The energy is moderate (297). But it’s tiny, inconsistent, and a bit of a gamble. Still, it might be the only time you’ll see a proper wave face.

Wednesday the 26th brings a big change. Swell jumps to 8ft from the NW on the morning and 10ft in the afternoon. The combined energy hits 1055 and 1351—that’s strong wave energy. But this is a beach-and-reef setup, and with a period of 8–9 seconds, it’s a short-period windswell. The wind is cross-onshore, so it’s going to be a messy, powerful, and dangerous beast. This is for experts only. Beginners, stay far away.

The last week of August and into September is a bit of a mixed bag. The swell stays solid (6ft–8ft) from the NW, but the wind doesn’t let up. The best chance for a decent session might be Monday the 31st morning. The swell is 7ft from the NW, period 8 seconds, and the wind is light from the SW, almost cross-shore. The energy is strong (545), and the water’s a bit tricky—let’s talk about that. The water temperature anomaly is not flagged, so it’s about average for the time of year, probably around 68–72°F. Nothing wild.

If you’re a solid intermediate or advanced surfer, the 31st morning is your best bet. The swell is solid, wind is light, and it’s likely to be the cleanest we’ll see in this whole stretch. But the crowds at Rockaway can be an issue; it’s exposed and popular, so expect company.

After that, Tuesday the 1st of September drops off hard. Swell tanks to 4ft, period plummets to 5 seconds, and energy is weak (132). It’s back to poor conditions.

So, the standout here is Monday the 31st morning. It’s the only time the stars nearly align: solid NW swell, light wind, and decent energy. Everything else is a battle against the wind or the size. It’s not a classic run, but if you’re patient, you’ll get a window.

Rusty.

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