Rolling Stones Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about the next 16 days.

The whole stretch is a bit of a mixed bag, but there’s one clear standout. Water temps are running a bit colder than usual for this time of year, about 54°F, so you’ll want a thicker wetsuit.

The main event is Rolling Stones, a reef break. Nothing doing until Friday morning. Wednesday and Thursday are a total washout – rain, cross-onshore wind, lumpy, poor surf. Two days of nothing.

Then Friday morning, 21 August, it all lines up. Glassy conditions with a NW wind, a solid 5-foot swell from the S with a long 13-second period. The combined energy is strong at 1263. This is the best window of the whole forecast – clean, offshore, proper groundswell. Rolling Stones is a reef, so that long-period S swell will wrap in nicely. It’s advanced-only, so if you’re not experienced, give it a miss.

Friday afternoon is still good but a bit more marginal with a cross-shore breeze and a 6-foot swell from the same direction, period stretching to 16 seconds. Energy is strong at 1504. Crowds are possible, so expect company.

Saturday morning, 22 August, is still clean with a light offshore from the NW, but the swell drops to 4 feet with moderate energy (424). Still fun but smaller. Saturday afternoon goes glassy again with a 4-foot S swell – a nice long session if you’re after small waves.

From Sunday, 23 August, the swell fades quickly – down to 2 feet on Sunday morning, then 2 feet by the afternoon. Winds are offshore or cross-off, so it’s clean but tiny. Energy drops to 134 and then 93. Not worth paddling out for.

Monday 24 August brings a tiny 1-foot SSW groundswell (16 seconds) with an offshore NNW breeze – clean but very small. Energy is weak at 143.

Tuesday 25 August sees a small bump back to 2 feet from the S with a 16-second period, cross-off wind, and clean. Energy is moderate at 339. A decent little session if you’re patient.

Wednesday 26 August: 3-foot S swell, 15-second period, cross-off wind, clean, moderate energy at 514. Still small but clean.

From Thursday 27 August through the end of the month, the swell is inconsistent, mostly under 3 feet, with onshore winds returning. The combined energy stays low, often under 400. Conditions are poor to marginal, and from 30 August onwards, it’s pretty much flat with onshore wind and rain.

The first week of September doesn’t bring much hope either – more rain, strong onshore winds, and a brief spike to 7 feet on 2 September, but with a fresh cross-onshore and lumpy conditions. That’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a clean paddle session.

So, the bottom line: Friday morning 21 August at Rolling Stones is your best bet. Glassy, 5 feet, long-period S groundswell, strong energy. After that, there are a few clean but small windows, but nothing compares. The last week of August and into September is pretty bleak.

Rusty.

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