Rockaway Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for Rockaway. I’ve been staring at this stretch of coast and honestly, it’s a tough one for the next 16 days. We’re looking at a long stretch of poor surf conditions right through, with only a couple of moments that might get your heart rate up, but they come with their own set of problems.

The water is sitting at a warm 74°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you can leave the thick rubber at home.

Starting off, the first recommendation isn't until the morning of September 17th. That’s a solid 12-day wait from the start of the period with next to nothing on offer. The early days are a write-off: tiny, weak, and messy. Sure, we get some clean conditions on Monday the 7th with a light offshore wind, but the swell is barely a whisper at 1.0ft, so it’s not worth paddling out for.

We’ve got a few cleaner moments mid-period, like Thursday morning the 10th with a 3ft swell from the south and a cross-offshore breeze, but the energy is low (74) and the wave shape isn't doing anything special. It’s the kind of day you might get a few grovelly ones if you’re desperate, but it’s not a standout.

The real event comes on Thursday the 17th. A clean 7ft swell from the east rolls in during the morning, and the combined energy jumps to 662 – that’s strong wave energy. The wind is cross-offshore from the north, keeping things clean. But here’s the catch: that’s over 8ft, so this is expert territory only. It’s going to be a heavy, powerful wave. The swell period is 8 seconds, so it’s a short-period wind swell, not a classic groundswell, meaning it’ll be a bit thumpy and harder to get into. For the experienced crew, this is the best on offer, but it’s a raw, challenging session.

The afternoon of the 17th gets even bigger at 8ft, but the wind swings more side-shore and the quality drops, making it a real battle. The 18th stays in the 7ft range but with a side-shore wind, so it’s not as clean.

After that, the swell fades fast and the conditions return to poor through the 20th. The 19th has some 4ft waves but with onshore winds and a risk of thunderstorms, so it’s not worth the drive.

To sum it up: The only real window is the morning of September 17th for experts only. Everyone else, this is a two-week stretch of small, weak, or blown-out surf. Keep the board in the car and wait for the next system.

Rusty

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