Rockaway Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's take a look at what's on the table for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this stretch is looking lean. Really lean. The only break in the mix is Rockaway, and it's exposed, so it's catching whatever scraps are out there, but the quality is just not there for most of the run.

For Sunday the 16th, forget it. Tiny, messy, onshore slop – 1 ft to 3 ft of short-period S swell with a cross-on breeze. Not worth wetting the suit.

We finally get a glimmer Monday the 17th morning. The wind swings NW, going offshore, and the swell bumps up to 3 ft from the SSE. It's still small, but that offshore wind will clean it right up. The energy is weak though (62). It's surfable, but just barely. Monday afternoon fades again.

The rest of the first week is pretty grim. Tuesday morning (18th) has a tiny 2 ft from the SSE with clean conditions from a N cross-off, but it's still poor. Wednesday through the weekend is a mix of tiny swell, onshore winds, and even some rain. The swell stays under 2 ft with combined energy dipping into the teens and twenties – that's practically nothing.

We then hit a long, quiet gap from around the 21st all the way through to the 26th. There's nothing worth recommending. The swell is tiny – mostly under 2 ft – and even when the wind is offshore or glassy, there just isn't enough push.

Now, looking way out, the end of the month shows a tiny bit of promise, but it's a long-range call so take it with a grain of salt. On Wednesday the 26th afternoon, we get a bit of a novelty: a 1 ft swell from the SE, but the period jumps to 14 seconds – that's very long-period groundswell energy. The wind goes light offshore from the WNW, and the water is a touch warmer than normal at 76°. The energy reading is 58 – still weak – but for a spot like Rockaway, a little pulse of long-period energy with clean wind can sometimes produce a sneaky, lined-up wave on the right sandbank. It's a long shot, but it's the only interesting thing I see.

Honestly, for the next two weeks, the pickings are slim. If you're desperate for a paddle, Monday morning the 17th or the late-arriving long-period pulse on the 26th afternoon are your only real chances for a clean wave, but keep your expectations on the floor. The water's a touch warmer than usual for August, so at least you won't freeze while you're waiting.

Rusty.

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