Rolling Stones Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’ve got the outlook for Rolling Stones. Buckle up.

Alright, let’s be straight up. For the next several days, we are looking at a pretty grim run of conditions. The wind is just howling from the south, smashing into this break. We’ve got a solid 10ft to 15ft south swell pumping, and the energy is massive – we’re talking 2935 to 5955 (moderate to very strong wave energy), but it’s all blown out. The water is sitting at 54°F, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year. For a reef break like this, it’s messy, lumpy, and cross-onshore. Not worth paddling out for anyone.

This ugly pattern holds until the 20th of August. Thursday the 20th finally shows a drop in the wind, but the swell drops too, to 6ft-7ft. The surf is still lumpy and marginal. Not your day.

Friday, 21st of August is where it finally comes together. This is the standout. The wind swings to a light NNW offshore at only 3 mph by morning. The swell settles to a clean 5ft from the south with a beautiful 12-second period. By the afternoon, it goes glassy – zero wind – with the swell picking up to 5ft and a very long 16-second period. This is proper groundswell energy (1396 – moderate wave energy). For a reef break like Rolling Stones, that’s money. Clean, lined up, and for experienced surfers, this is the best on offer in the whole outlook.

Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd are small, with dropping swell (2ft to 3ft), but the wind is cross-off and clean. It’s surfable but tiny.

We then get a bit of a lull through the middle of the week, with small, clean but marginal conditions. Keep an eye on Tuesday, 25th of August. By the afternoon, we see a 5ft south-southwest swell with a 13-second period, and a gentle offshore wind from the northwest. The wave energy is moderate (811). It won’t be huge, but it’ll be clean and rideable.

Thursday, 27th of August afternoon is another real highlight. This one is for the advanced crew. A clean 7ft south swell, but with a 15-second period cranking through (1989 – moderate wave energy). The wind goes light offshore from the north at 9 mph. This is gonna be clean, powerful, and good. It’s over 5ft, so it’s solid, but at 7ft it’s still manageable for experienced surfers.

After that, it gets ugly again with a strong southwesterly gale on the 28th and 29th, blowing out a big 8ft to 7ft swell. Stay out of the water. The period looks good, but the wind is a nightmare.

Then, finally, on Sunday, 30th of August, we end the run on a glassy note. Morning sees a 6ft south swell, 11-second period, with glassy conditions and zero wind. The wave energy is moderate (754). It’s clean, it’s there, but the crowds at Rolling Stones can be a problem – be prepared for company.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a write-off. The standout is unquestionably the 21st of August (Friday) for the glassy, long-period groundswell, and then the 27th of August (Thursday) for a more powerful, clean session. Don’t bother before that.

Rusty.

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