Surf Forecasts:
Rockaway surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period, E swell with 141 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 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 17) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 6s period. 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 Sunday (Aug 23) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rockaway over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s chew the fat on what Rockaway’s got cookin’. Rusty here, and this forecast is a bit of a slow burner. A long stretch of flat, boring water before we get any real juice.
Water temp is hangin’ around 75°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year. Not a big deal, but it’s nice.
First week, from the 17th through the 24th, it’s pretty dead. Monday the 17th morning is the best of a sorry lot. You’ve got a 4ft SSE swell, 6-second period, with a light NW offshore wind. That’ll give you some clean, waist-high little waves, but the energy is weak (110). It’s a session for the patient. After that, it’s a long dry spell. From Tuesday the 18th to Monday the 24th, swell heights drop below 2ft, and the wind is consistently cross or onshore. The energy readings are pathetic, mostly single digits. It’s flat, choppy, and not worth the wetsuit. Forget about it.
Then, on Tuesday the 25th, we get a pulse. The morning brings a 3ft S swell, short 5-second period, but with a clean 15 km/h NW offshore wind. That’s clean, waist-high, low-energy (73) surf. Surfable, but just. The afternoon sees the swell jump to 5ft from the S, with a 6-second period. The energy goes moderate (187), but the wind turns 15 km/h S cross-onshore, chopping it into a lumpy, messy mess. Not your best bet at all.
The one that will get the crew excited, if the wind plays ball, is Friday the 28th of August. We get a solid pulse of long-period groundswell: a 4ft SE swell with a 13-second period, carrying strong energy (352). This is the real deal. The catch? A 20 km/h ENE cross-onshore wind making it choppy. The swell direction is a bit off from the preferred SSE, but the power is there. This is for experts only. Long-period swells like this can break a bit straight on the beach, so be ready. The crowd factor is “often” at Rockaway, so expect a lineup. This is the stand-out, but it’s a gamble on the wind.
Saturday the 29th morning cleans up a little with a 2ft SSE swell and a 20 km/h NNE cross-offshore wind, giving you clean little waves, but the energy is weak (79). A weak finish.
So, the bottom line: the first week is a flat-out waste. The second week has a couple of pulses, but only the big Friday the 28th is worth a look, and only for the experienced lads.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Warm (max 29°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 49mm), heaviest during Fri afternoon. Warm (max 26°C on Thu afternoon, min 19°C on Fri afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 5 | ESE 6 | E 6 | ESE 6 | SE 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 80 | 41 | 44 | 42 | 32 | 33 | 21 | 21 | 17 | 12 | 17 | 18 | 25 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 56 | 82 | 95 | 39 | 22 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | glassy | cross | glassy | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:43AM1.56m | 11:55PM1.37m | 12:30PM1.50m | 00:44AM1.26m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:46PM0.16m | 5:57AM0.13m | 6:36PM0.26m | 6:41AM0.23m | 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 | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  | | | | | |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  | | |
 | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — |
 | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:42 | — |
mm | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 22 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
Temp °C | 24 | 29 | 28 | 25 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 28 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 21 |
Feels °C | 27 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 30 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SE 9 | SE 6 | SSE 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | E 6 |
| kJ | 80 | 41 | 44 | 42 | 32 | 33 | 21 | 14 | 17 | 10 | 17 | 18 | 25 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 7 | 82 | 68 | 39 | 17 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 8 | — | S 13 | SE 12 | S 3 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 4 | S 15 | — | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 12 | S 5 |
| kJ | — | 9 | — | 3 | 6 | 1 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 2 | 4 | — | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 4 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 7 | — | — | — | SSE 11 | — | — | SE 9 | ESE 6 | — | S 5 | SE 5 | SE 14 | — | — | — | — | — | S 5 | SE 12 |
| kJ | — | 17 | — | — | — | 12 | — | — | 12 | 3 | — | 1 | 1 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 22 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 6 | — | — | SSE 5 | — | NNE 3 | E 4 | E 4 | E 4 | ESE 5 | — | E 6 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | — | — | 6 | — | 2 | 6 | 13 | 18 | 56 | — | 95 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 175 | 4 | 30 | 72 | 64 | 50 | 1228 | 153 | 963 | 273 | 354 | 4 | 322 | 174 | 0 | 167 | 30 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Long Island New York | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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