Rockaway Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, it’s Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: the next fortnight is a tough one for Rockaway. We’ve got a long stretch of flat, gutless days ahead, with only a single, brief window that might get your heart pumping. Don’t get your hopes up too high early on.

The pattern kicks off on Saturday, August 22nd, with a paltry 1 foot SE swell coming in at a weak 8 seconds. The wind is onshore from the SSE, making it a complete write-off. The combined swell energy is a piddly 22 (weak energy), and the water is sitting at 77°, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year. It’s just not happening.

That set-up pretty much continues day after day. We’ve got a long, dry spell here. Sunday the 23rd through to the morning of Wednesday, September 2nd, is a desert. The swell is tiny, the winds are mostly cross or onshore, and the ratings are all zeros. You’ll see a few glimmers of clean conditions, like the glassy morning of Wednesday, August 26th, but with only 1 foot on the cards and a combined energy of 24 (weak energy), there’s simply nothing to ride. It’s a proper flat spell.

Now, hold on to your leash. The only real standout is Wednesday, September 2nd, in the afternoon. The forecast shows a jump to 4 feet of SE swell. The period is 11 seconds, which is a solid groundswell. But the real kicker? The wind goes glassy, dead calm. The combined energy hits 354 (moderate wave energy). This is the one. Don’t expect perfection, it’s still only a 2 out of 10 internally, but it’s the only thing we’ve got. This is for the experienced crew: 4 feet with that period at Rockaway can get a bit dumpy, but with glassy conditions, it’ll be the cleanest it’s been all fortnight. The direction is SSE, which is the optimum for Rockaway.

After that little window, it’s back to the doldrums. Thursday, September 3rd, drops back to 4 feet, but the period crashes to 6 seconds and the wind turns onshore, making it a mess. The energy drops to 121 (moderate wave energy), but it’s poor. Friday, September 4th, has a morning with 3 feet and glassy conditions from the WNW, but the period is a weak 8 seconds. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. From there, we’re back to small, choppy, and onshore junk through to the end of the forecast on September 6th.

So, to sum it up: don’t even bother looking at the beach until the afternoon of Wednesday, September 2nd. That’s your one and only chance. It’s a long gap of nothing, then one brief moment of hope. The rest is a kite-surfing paradise with the constant cross-shore winds, but for a paddle surfer? Forget it.

Stay patient, and check the forecast again. Things can change.

Rusty.

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