Rockaway Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.57° N 73.85° W

Rockaway Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 19 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rockaway sea temperature is
23.3° C
0.8° 

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


Rockaway surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 6s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s period, SE swell with 38 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 6s period with SSE 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Rockaway in the next 16 days are 0.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 2s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 8AM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Mon 24th Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 6s
Best Surf 2AM (Mon 24th Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 6s
Most Powerful 8AM (Thu 20th Aug)1.5ft (0.5m) 9s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, this is Rusty checkin’ in from the Rockaways, and I gotta be straight with you – it’s a rough stretch ahead for the New York shores. We’re staring down a long, flat spell of poor conditions that hardly even looks like surf for the next week or more. The energy just isn’t there, and when it does start to show up, it’s mushy and weak.

The first real window where you might want to even look at the water isn’t until Wednesday, September 2nd. That’s over a week away from now, with a whole lot of nothing in between. From Saturday, August 23rd all the way through Tuesday, September 1st, the combined swell energy is tiny – barely hitting 60 on a good day, and most of the time it’s down around 20-30. That’s flat. Water temp is nothing special, pretty average for this time of year, so no drama there.

Now, Wednesday, September 2nd morning, we finally see a pulse. A tiny 3ft swell from the south with a short, crumbly period of 5 seconds. The combined energy hits 71. It’s not big, but what makes it interesting is the wind: dead calm, glassy, zero wind. That’s a major positive because the water will be smooth as a lake. Rockaway faces the right way for that southerly direction, but with such a short period, expect it to be a bit gutless and close out quick on the beach. It’s not a standout, just the first real chance to get wet.

The only other glimmer comes on the afternoon of Tuesday, September 1st, when we get a glassy, still afternoon with a cleaner-looking 1.0ft swell from the southeast and a longer period of 14 seconds. The energy is still weak at 89, but that long period will give the tiny little waves a bit of push. That’s a groundswell pulse, and it might wrap around and show a cleaner face than the local wind slop, but it’s still very small. I wouldn’t call either of these a true standout. The best on offer might be the glassy Wednesday, September 2nd morning, just because of the total lack of wind and the 3ft bump, but it’s still only a 1 out of 10.

Honestly, if you’re thinking paddle surfing, you’re mostly out of luck for the next 10 days. The onshore winds and tiny, weak swell don’t add up to much. If you’ve got a kite and a big wind window, Saturday, August 23rd and the 24th have some consistent cross-onshore wind, which could be more interesting for a kite session than a paddle.

Hang tight, or find a lake. The ocean is on a long sleep.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Thu morning. Warm (max 28°C on Wed afternoon, min 21°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Warm (max 27°C on Mon afternoon, min 21°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the E on Sat morning, calm by Mon night).

Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
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
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
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)
0.5
SE
6
0.6
SSE
6
0.4
SE
9
0.5
SE
9
0.4
SE
8
0.3
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.8
ESE
4
0.8
ESE
5
0.8
E
5
0.3
SSE
5
0.4
SSE
6
0.7
SSE
6
0.3
SE
12
0.3
SE
12
0.4
SE
11
0.3
SE
11
0.3
SE
11
0.3
SE
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
21
23
28
36
24
11
18
18
18
19
31
33
5
12
33
22
21
30
18
18
18
Wind (km/h)
10
W
20
S
15
WSW
10
WNW
5
NNW
5
N
10
NE
15
SSE
10
ESE
30
E
25
ENE
10
ENE
10
SE
10
SW
20
NNW
15
WNW
15
WSW
5
NW
10
SE
25
SSE
20
SSE
Wind State
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
off
cross-off
glassy
cross
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross
off
off
cross-off
glassy
on
on
on
High Tide
1:18PM1.45m
1:34AM1.18m
2:06PM1.40m
2:27AM1.12m
2:58PM1.38m
3:25AM1.09m
3:55PM1.38m
4:26AM1.11m
4:51PM1.42m
5:23AM1.17m
5:44PM1.48m
6:13AM1.24m
6:29PM1.54m
Low Tide
7:35PM0.33m
7:34AM0.32m
8:39PM0.36m
8:36AM0.37m
9:41PM0.35m
9:37AM0.37m
10:35PM0.31m
10:32AM0.33m
11:23PM0.25m
11:22AM0.28m
00:08AM0.18m
12:09PM0.22m
00:51AM0.11m
clear
clear
clear
light rain
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:09
6:09
6:11
6:11
6:13
6:13
6:15
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:47
7:45
7:45
7:43
7:42
7:39
7:38
 mm
1
3
1
2
2
Temp °C
25
28
28
24
24
24
24
25
24
22
22
22
22
24
25
23
27
27
23
24
24
Feels °C
25
26
27
24
26
26
22
24
23
21
20
21
24
26
26
21
24
24
23
21
23
  • 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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