Rockaway Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.57° N 73.85° W

Rockaway Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 am 28 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rockaway sea temperature is
23.0°C
1.1° 

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


Rockaway surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period, SE swell with 97 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period with SE 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 2s 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 1.3m 6s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 03) at 5PM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Fri 28th Aug)2ft (0.6m) 8s
Best Surf 8PM (Fri 28th Aug)2ft (0.6m) 8s
Most Powerful 2AM (Wed 2nd Sep)4.5ft (1.3m) 6s

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


The Lowdown

G'day, I'm Rusty, and I've been staring at the charts for Rockaway. Let's be honest, it's a grim run for the next couple of weeks. The outlook is a long, drawn-out poor spell. There's a massive gap of almost no worthwhile surf stretching right through, with only a brief moment of something surfable.

For the first week, from Friday the 28th of August right through to the 10th of September, it's pretty much a write-off. We've got tiny, weak swell with a combined energy that barely cracks 100 (peaking at 112 on Friday morning). The swell is mostly short-period stuff from the SE, around 8 seconds, which just doesn't have the grunt. Winds are a constant battle, shifting all over the place, keeping the surface messy. The water temp on Friday morning is sitting at a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, about 73°, but you won't be bothered by the water because the waves are rubbish.

There's one tiny glimmer on Monday the 7th of September. Early morning we might see some near-glassy conditions with a light NNW breeze and a bit of a cleaner surface. The swell is only 2ft from the ESE with a period of 11 seconds, so it's a groundswell, and the energy is a weak 85. It's surfable, but it's about as ordinary as it gets. The moderate cross-onshore that follows in the afternoon will kill it off.

Then we get to the 11th of September, and the energy starts to build. By Friday the 11th, the combined energy is hitting 101 in the morning and 172 in the afternoon, and the swell bumps up a bit. But the trade-off is a raw, onshore wind from the ESE and E, gusting up to 12 mph, making the whole affair choppy and poor. It’s a tease of energy with terrible conditions.

Honestly, there’s nothing here you’d want to paddle out for. If the swell gets a bit more size and the wind holds onshore like this, the setup might look more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. It’s a blank run, but for this area, it's not unusual to see a long dry spell. Keep an eye on it though; forecasts can change.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 28°C on Fri night, min 19°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Wed night. Warm (max 27°C on Mon afternoon, min 22°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
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)
0.8
SE
8
0.6
SE
8
0.6
SE
8
0.6
SE
8
0.5
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.8
S
4
0.7
S
5
0.3
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
7
0.4
SE
7
0.8
SSE
4
1.3
SE
6
0.9
SSE
5
0.5
SE
11
0.5
SE
10
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
82
54
41
38
30
22
24
22
24
10
16
13
12
17
97
51
57
47
29
29
26
Wind (km/h)
10
W
15
SSW
20
N
10
N
15
S
10
WSW
15
SSW
25
SSW
10
WNW
5
NNW
10
SSW
15
SW
10
W
10
S
15
S
15
S
20
S
20
SSW
20
W
25
W
15
NW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
off
off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
off
High Tide
8:10AM1.47m
8:22PM1.62m
8:45AM1.52m
8:58PM1.59m
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
Low Tide
2:22PM0.08m
2:47AM-0.03m
3:04PM0.06m
3:22AM-0.04m
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
clear
part cloud
thunderstorm
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
thunderstorm
cloud
clear
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
thunderstorm
light rain
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
clear
clear
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:18
6:18
6:20
6:20
6:22
6:22
6:24
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:34
7:32
7:30
7:29
7:28
7:25
7:23
 mm
1
1
4
2
2
1
2
2
1
7
2
Temp °C
24
27
28
21
25
24
23
27
27
22
27
26
22
24
23
23
24
24
30
35
30
Feels °C
25
27
27
18
22
21
22
26
26
21
27
26
23
28
25
25
24
24
30
33
31
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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