Rockaway Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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.

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