Rockaway Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way for Rockaway. I gotta be straight with you – it’s not looking like a classic stretch. The whole 16-day window is a bit of a grind, with persistent cross-onshore winds keeping things choppy and messy. There are no real standouts here, but there are a few windows where the energy picks up enough to make it worth a paddle if you’re desperate.

Right off the bat, the water is sitting at 61° – that’s much warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t need a thick suit.

The first few days, from Saturday 18 July through to Thursday 23 July, are pretty poor. The swell is small, mostly around 2ft to 4ft, and it’s coming from the SW or NW with short periods. The winds are cross-onshore from the W and WNW, so the surface is chopped up. The combined energy is weak to moderate at best – hitting 694 (moderate) on Saturday afternoon, but the quality is just not there. It’s a tough slog for anything rideable.

Friday 24 July morning shows a glimmer. The swell is still only 3ft from the SW, but the period jumps to 24 seconds – that’s a very long period groundswell. The combined energy is moderate to strong at 834. The wind is a light cross-onshore, so it’s still a bit bumpy, but the long period could give some shape. It’s marginal, but it’s the best we’ve seen. If you’re a patient surfer, Friday morning might offer a few clean lines on the sets.

The weekend of 25-26 July is similar. Swell hangs around 3ft to 3ft from the SW, period dropping from 21 to 19 seconds. Energy stays moderate-strong (up to 967 on Saturday morning). Winds are still cross-onshore, but Saturday morning has a light breeze, so it’s less choppy. Still marginal, but the early sessions might have a window.

Now, Monday 27 July morning is the one that catches my eye. Swell is 4ft from the SW with an 18-second period. The combined energy jumps to 1136 (strong). Winds are light cross-onshore from the WNW, which, while not perfect, is about as good as it gets with this pattern. This is the closest thing to a standout in the whole outlook. It’s not a classic day, but the energy is there, and the tide might work in your favour. Tuesday 28 July morning is similar – 4ft swell, 18-second period, wind light from the W, energy at 1313 (strong). That’s another session to pencil in.

After that, we head into the last week of July and start of August, and it turns ugly. Swell gets bigger – 7ft to 8ft from the NW on 29 July – but the period drops to 8 seconds, and the winds are still cross-onshore. That’s a messy, blown-out combo. The energy is there (1418 on Thursday 30 July morning), but with short period and onshore wind, it’s more of a washing machine than a wave. Honestly, for a beach-and-reef setup like Rockaway, this looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The last few days into 2 August stay in that 5ft to 8ft range with short period and cross-onshore winds – poor conditions.

So, if you’re looking for a window, focus on Friday 24 July morning, but the real picks are Monday 27 July and Tuesday 28 July mornings. They’re not perfect, but they’re the best of a rough bunch. The rest of the time, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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