Rockaway Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you right off the bat: this is a tough stretch for Rockaway. We’ve got a long run of poor surf conditions ahead before we finally see a glimmer of something worth paddling out for. The water is sitting at 60° right now, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least a dip won’t be a shock to the system.

For the first week and a half, it’s pretty grim. From Tuesday the 14th morning all the way through to Monday the 27th, the forecast is littered with poor surf conditions and a lot of what I’d call “don’t bother.” The swell is there in size on Wednesday the 15th and Thursday the 16th, with waves hitting 6ft to 8ft from the NW, but the wind is a cross-onshore breeze that’s chopping everything up. The combined energy (531-1133) is moderate to strong, but it’s wasted. The period is short at 8 seconds, so it’s just a messy, lumpy wave. For a beach-and-reef setup like Rockaway, this looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. Honestly, there’s no standout here for a surfer.

The real glimmer, and the only true standout, comes at the very end of the outlook. On Tuesday the 28th of July, the wind finally shifts to a cross-offshore breeze from the SSW. We’re looking at a smaller swell, only 3ft from the SW with a period of 16 seconds. That long period is a groundswell, which will bring some real shape and energy. The combined energy (750) is moderate, but with the wind being clean, it’s the best we’ve got. The morning of the 28th is the pick – it’s described as “clean.” The break is consistent, but it’s an advanced spot, so heads up. Crowds are sometimes an issue, so expect company. For a solid wave, this is the session to aim for.

That continues into Wednesday the 29th of July morning with a similar 3ft swell from the SW and a cross-offshore breeze, but the confidence is lower for the second week. It’s a promising but less certain call.

So, the long story short: we’ve got a huge gap of about 14 days with no real recommendations. The blank run is pretty normal for this area when the wind is wrong. Keep an eye on that Tuesday the 28th and Wednesday the 29th mornings. That’s your window.

Rusty.

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