Surf Forecasts:
Rockaway surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 2 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period, E swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s period, E swell with 188 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 2 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period with E swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Rockaway this week:
The surf forecast for Rockaway over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 2PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 4s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Rockaway in the next 16 days are 1.5m 6s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Friday (Sep 04) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2PM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rockaway over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you—this next stretch for Rockaway is a tough one. We’re looking at a long, long dry spell with barely a ripple worth paddling for. The first real nod to anything surfable doesn’t even show up until Thursday afternoon, September 3rd, and even then it’s pretty ordinary.
Let’s start with the overall picture. For days on end, we’ve got tiny, weak swell with poor wind. The first few days – Sunday the 30th of August through Wednesday the 2nd of September – are a complete write-off. South and south-west winds are blowing cross or onshore, and the swell is barely 1 ft to 2 ft, with periods under 8 seconds. The wave energy is pitiful, with readings like 14–26 (weak). It’s just not happening.
Then, on Wednesday morning, September 2nd, we get a little bump – a 4 ft swell from the east, but the period is a short 6 seconds, and the wind is a messy cross-onshore. The combined energy hits 149 (moderate), but the conditions are still "poor." Wednesday afternoon sees a 5 ft swell from the east, but again, short period (6 seconds) and a cross-shore wind. The energy is up to 242 (moderate), but it’s not clean, and it’s too big for beginners anyway.
Now, Thursday afternoon, September 3rd, is the closest we get to a standout. The swell drops to 3 ft from the southeast, with an 8-second period, and the wind goes glassy (5 km/h from the south-southwest). The energy is 85 (weak). The note says "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions." It’s not great, but it’s the best on offer. The break is Rockaway – exposed, and with the swell coming from the southeast, it’s not the optimum direction. Crowds are "often" here, so expect company.
After that, Friday morning, September 4th, gives us a clean offshore wind from the west-northwest at 25 km/h, with a 2 ft southeast swell (8-second period). The energy is 54 (weak), and it’s "surfable but very ordinary." That’s the only other session worth a mention.
Then it’s back to tiny, messy, or onshore junk for the rest of the period. From Saturday the 5th right through to Monday the 14th of September, we’re looking at swell heights mostly under 2 ft, short periods, and cross or onshore winds. The energy is nearly always below 100 (weak). There’s a day or two with a little bump – like Tuesday the 8th with a 4 ft swell from the south-southeast, but the wind is onshore, and the period is a short 6 seconds. Not worth it.
The water temperature on Sunday the 30th is 73°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – about 2° above average. That’s a nice little bonus if you’re just floating around.
To be honest, the only real standouts are Thursday afternoon, September 3rd, with that glassy wind, and maybe Friday morning, September 4th, with the offshore breeze. Both are tiny, though. For a bigger, more consistent session, you’d need a proper groundswell and clean wind, which just isn’t in the cards.
If you’re a beginner, the swell never gets over 5 ft in a clean state, so it’s not dangerous, but there’s almost nothing to ride. For experts, there’s nothing here to get excited about.
So, that’s the story. A long gap of nothing, then a couple of tiny, ordinary windows. The forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 27°C on Sun afternoon, min 20°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 28°C on Fri afternoon, min 21°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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) | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | S 5 | SE 12 | E 6 | E 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
24 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 23 | 89 | 188 | 83 | 117 | 82 | 40 | 50 | 27 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 12 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:20AM1.57m | 9:36PM1.54m | 9:59AM1.59m | 10:19PM1.47m | 10:42AM1.60m | 11:08PM1.39m | 11:32AM1.59m | 00:05AM1.32m | 12:29PM1.58m | 1:07AM1.27m | 1:31PM1.56m | 2:13AM1.24m | 2:38PM1.55m | 3:23AM1.26m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:44PM0.06m | 3:56AM-0.03m | 4:26PM0.08m | 4:31AM0.01m | 5:10PM0.12m | 5:10AM0.06m | 6:02PM0.18m | 5:57AM0.13m | 7:08PM0.24m | 6:59AM0.20m | 8:26PM0.25m | 8:19AM0.23m | 9:39PM0.20m | ||||||||
6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | |
— | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — | |
mm | — | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 7 | — | 8 | 2 | 2 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 27 | 27 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 28 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 23 |
Feels °C | 19 | 26 | 27 | 23 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 29 | 28 | 25 | 27 | 22 | 22 | 31 | 31 | 21 | 25 | 21 | 19 | 22 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | S 4 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | S 5 | SE 8 | SE 11 | SE 10 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 |
24 | 11 | 12 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 4 | 11 | 58 | 52 | 83 | 117 | 82 | 40 | 50 | 27 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 12 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | E 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | SE 7 | SE 12 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 9 | S 5 | — | SE 8 | S 4 | SE 8 | S 6 | S 6 | SE 8 | S 6 |
1 | 1 | 11 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 23 | 2 | 2 | 46 | 1 | — | 24 | 3 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | S 6 | — | — | — | ESE 3 | — | SSE 8 | S 5 | — | — | S 5 | — | — | S 6 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 6 | — |
1 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 6 | 4 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 2 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 3 | — | — | E 3 | — | — | S 5 | — | E 6 | E 6 | — | — | S 3 | S 4 | NW 3 | NW 3 | NNW 3 | NW 3 | — | — |
— | 6 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 11 | — | 89 | 188 | — | — | 3 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 522 | 2548 | 117 | 570 | 839 | 403 | 570 | 356 | 136 | 17 | 17 | 139 | 72 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 83 | 117 | 865 | 323 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Long Island New York | |||||||||||||||||||||
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 11 km (7 miles) from the city of East New York. If you plan a vacation in Long Island New York, look for hotels and other accommodation in East New York. East New York has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











