
Surf Forecasts:
Rockaway surf forecast from 5 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 10 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 7s period, SSW swell with 220 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Rockaway this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Rockaway in the next 16 days are 1.6m 7s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 10) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rockaway over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. I’ve had a good look at the numbers for the next couple of weeks, and I gotta be straight with you – it’s a grim stretch for Rockaway. We’re looking at a long, dry spell with hardly a wave worth paddling for. The first *real* glimmer of anything doesn't show up until the middle of the second week, so we’re talking about a big gap of over a week with nothing to get excited about.
The water’s sitting at 74°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s about the only nice thing going on.
Let’s run through it. The entire first week, from September 5th right through to the 11th, is a total write-off. We’ve got tiny dribbles of swell, mostly under 2 ft, with weak energy barely hitting double digits. The wind is all over the place – sometimes offshore, sometimes cross-shore – but it doesn’t matter because there’s no power behind it. The wave comment keeps saying “poor surf conditions,” and the score is a flat zero. There’s just nothing to work with.
We roll into the next week, and the story doesn’t change much. September 12th and 13th are still dead. The swell tries to bump up a little on the 13th afternoon, hitting 4 ft from the SSW, but it’s a short-period, windswell mess with a cross-onshore breeze. The energy climbs to 115, but it’s choppy and ugly. Not worth the paddle out.
The real kicker is the second half of the week. September 14th through the 17th, we’re stuck in the same rut. Tiny swell, weak energy, and messy winds. The 15th afternoon gives us a sniff of something with 3 ft from the ENE and clean conditions, but the energy is weak at 61 and it’s described as “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” That’s the best we get, and it’s not saying much.
Finally, on September 17th, we see a bit of a pulse. The morning shows 4 ft from the E with a period of 7 seconds and energy climbing to 131. It’s light cross-shore wind, which is okay, but the quality is still rated as poor. The next day, the 18th, looks similar – 4 ft from the ESE, period stretches to 9 seconds, and the energy hits 180. That’s the most oomph we see in the whole window, but it’s coming with onshore winds, so it’s going to be a messy, lumpy affair. After that, it fades back to nothing by the 20th.
So, what’s the standout? Honestly, there isn’t one. This is a stretch where the consistent, decent surf just isn’t on the cards. The forecast can always change, but right now, the board stays in the car. The only thing that even looks like a session is the morning of September 18th (Friday) at Rockaway, with that 4 ft of ESE swell and longer period, but the onshore wind is a real buzzkill. It’s the best of a bad bunch, but it’s not a recommendation.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 26°C on Sat afternoon, min 19°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 28°C on Wed afternoon, min 18°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Tue afternoon, fresh winds from the SW by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | E 6 | E 5 | E 7 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 9 | SE 9 | SSW 4 | S 5 | SSW 6 | S 7 | S 7 | S 6 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
10 | 10 | 10 | 31 | 28 | 26 | 19 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 16 | 77 | 155 | 58 | 21 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 5 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | off | glassy | off | off | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | off | off | off | off | off | cross |
High Tide | 2:38PM1.55m | 3:23AM1.26m | 3:48PM1.57m | 4:33AM1.32m | 4:56PM1.62m | 5:37AM1.42m | 5:56PM1.68m | 6:32AM1.54m | 6:49PM1.73m | 7:21AM1.64m | 7:36PM1.73m | 8:07AM1.70m | 8:21PM1.70m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:19AM0.23m | 9:39PM0.20m | 9:36AM0.20m | 10:42PM0.12m | 10:42AM0.13m | 11:37PM0.03m | 11:41AM0.05m | 00:28AM-0.05m | 12:36PM-0.01m | 1:16AM-0.11m | 1:28PM-0.06m | 2:01AM-0.14m | 2:18PM-0.07m | 2:44AM-0.13m | |||||||
6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | |
— | 7:21 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:17 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:10 | — | |
mm | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 26 | 24 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 27 | 26 | 23 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 28 | 23 | 18 | 23 | 21 |
Feels °C | 21 | 25 | 22 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 24 | 23 | 20 | 23 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 7 | E 6 | SE 8 | S 6 | E 5 | E 7 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | S 3 | ESE 10 | E 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 9 | — | S 7 | S 7 | S 6 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 |
9 | 3 | 10 | 2 | 28 | 26 | 19 | 10 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | 58 | 21 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 6 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 10 | S 4 | SE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | N 3 | E 6 | — |
10 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | S 5 | — | — | S 6 | S 6 | S 5 | — | SE 8 | SE 9 | S 5 | S 5 | — | — | — | E 8 | — | — | — | S 6 | SE 11 |
2 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 4 | E 6 | — | — | — | — | SSW 4 | — | — | SSW 3 | SSW 4 | S 5 | SSW 6 | NW 3 | NW 3 | N 3 | — | — | — |
— | — | 9 | 31 | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | 2 | 16 | 77 | 155 | 6 | 5 | 6 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 757 | 2531 | 316 | 312 | 117 | 36 | 64 | 30 | 263 | 284 | 1219 | 451 | 496 | 931 | 809 | 64 | 50 | 117 | 719 | 791 | 834 |
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.










