Rockaway Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.57° N 73.85° W

Rockaway Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 am 01 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rockaway sea temperature is
22.9°C
1.4° 

Rockaway surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Rockaway surf forecast from 1 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period, ESE swell with 98 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 3 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period with ESE 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 Thursday (Sep 03) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Rockaway in the next 16 days are 1.1m 6s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 11AM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Thu 3rd Sep)3ft (0.9m) 6s
Best Surf 2AM (Thu 3rd Sep)3ft (0.9m) 6s
Most Powerful 5PM (Wed 2nd Sep)3.5ft (1.1m) 6s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rockaway over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve gotta be straight with you – the next 16 days are a real struggle for surf around here. We’ve got a long, dry spell with nothing worth paddling out for, and then a very brief, late-hour glimmer of hope. Let’s break it down.

From Tuesday the 1st of September all the way through to Wednesday the 9th, it’s a write-off. Tiny waves, poor conditions, and mostly onshore or cross-shore wind. The water is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year at 73°, but that’s no consolation when you’re staring at 1 ft of slop. You’d be better off doing something else.

Then we hit a real gap. From Thursday the 10th of September onward, things start to shift. The first real, stand-out moment comes on Thursday the 10th of September in the afternoon. Over at Rockaway (United States) , we get a clean, cross-offshore breeze from the WNW at 9 mph, with a 5 ft SSW swell. The combined energy of all swells directed here is moderate (235). It’s not a monster, but it’s the biggest, cleanest wave we’ve seen in the whole outlook. The period is a short 7 seconds, so it’s not a long-lined groundswell – more of a local wind swell – but on a clean day, that’ll still offer some fun, punchy beach breaks. The wind is offshore, so it’ll be clean. This is the best on offer.

Friday the 11th of September morning is worth a mention too. A light NNW offshore breeze at 3 mph, with 3 ft of S swell at 8 seconds. The energy is weak (89), but it’s glassy and clean. A small-scale option for the patient surfer.

After that, it’s back to tiny, messy, or onshore conditions for the rest of the period. The 14th of September does see a pulse of 4 ft S swell, but it’s attached to a light cross-shore wind and a short period, and the combined energy (146) is moderate – but the onshore wind returns in the afternoon. Nothing to get excited about.

So, to sum it up: the first 9 days are a total bust. The standout is the afternoon of the 10th of September, with a clean, offshore wind and the biggest swell we get. Friday morning the 11th is a backup. The rest is a waiting game. Keep an eye on the forecasts, because it won’t stay this poor forever.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 27°C on Tue afternoon, min 21°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Warm (max 30°C on Fri afternoon, min 19°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
Sunday
6
Monday
7
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SE
7
0.3
SE
7
0.3
SE
12
1.1
E
6
1.1
ESE
6
0.9
ESE
6
0.7
ESE
6
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
8
0.3
SE
8
0.3
SE
8
0.4
S
6
0.3
SE
8
0.3
SE
8
0.2
E
7
0.8
ENE
5
0.5
E
5
0.3
E
7
0.2
SSE
9
1
S
4
1
S
5
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
12
7
23
74
98
57
35
27
25
11
10
12
10
9
4
33
13
9
8
37
59
Wind (km/h)
10
SW
15
SSE
20
NE
25
ENE
25
ESE
5
E
10
SW
15
SW
15
WNW
20
W
20
NW
15
NNW
20
N
10
NNE
15
NE
15
NE
20
SE
15
SSW
15
SW
30
S
25
SW
Wind State
cross
on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross
High Tide
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
3:48PM1.57m
4:33AM1.32m
4:56PM1.62m
Low Tide
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
9:36AM0.20m
10:42PM0.12m
10:42AM0.13m
11:37PM0.03m
rain showers
part cloud
thunderstorm
cloud
rain showers
rain showers
thunderstorm
part cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:22
6:22
6:24
6:24
6:24
6:26
6:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:28
7:25
7:23
7:22
7:21
7:20
7:17
 mm
1
9
1
5
1
2
Temp °C
23
27
25
21
22
22
23
27
27
25
30
28
23
26
24
21
22
20
21
24
23
Feels °C
26
28
28
20
21
25
25
29
27
25
26
25
19
24
22
19
20
18
20
19
18
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

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