Rye Ocean Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. The next couple of weeks have a bit of everything, but you gotta pick your moments. The ocean’s gonna be messy early, then clean up, then blow itself out again. The short version: this coming Sunday and Monday morning are your real standouts. There’s also a sneaky window mid-week after that, but the winds get cranky. Overall, it’s a mixed bag with a couple of proper gems if you’re patient.

Right now, Tuesday morning at Rye Ocean Beach is pretty average. There’s a 5.2ft SW swell at 14 seconds, but a 30 km/h NW cross-shore is just chopping it up. It’s surfable for a beginner, but it’s lumpy and not much fun. The water is 56.3°, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year. The energy is strong though – combined energy is 1201. The afternoon cleans up a touch – wind drops to 25 km/h cross-off, swell 5.6ft, still that 14-second period. It’s cleaner, but still marginal.

Wednesday turns ugly. The swell builds to 7.2ft and then 9.8ft with a 16-second period, but the wind swings onshore and it’s just a messy, lumpy mess. Strong energy, 2598 and then 8536, but it’s a no-go for paddle surfing. This is getting to the size where it’s exciting to watch, but not to ride. Thursday and Friday stay big – 9.8ft from the SW with that long 16-second period. The wind is more moderate, but it’s still cross or cross-on, and honestly, at this size for a beach and reef break, it’s just too much. The energy is strong – 4837, 4192, 4507 – but it’s not our day. 9.8ft is way past beginner territory and into the “only for experts” zone. Friday afternoon, the wind goes fully onshore, so that’s a dead loss.

Saturday, the swell drops to 8.2ft and then 7.5ft, still with that long 15-second period. But again, the wind is cross-on, and while it’s more manageable, it’s still not clean. It’s a bit too big and washy to be any good. The energy is still strong – 2781 and 2531 – so there’s plenty of water moving, but it’s not lining up right.

Now, here’s the good stuff. Sunday, August 16th, early morning is the first real standout. The swell has pulled back to 6.2ft from the SW, period still a solid 14 seconds, but the wind is a light 10 km/h ENE cross-off. That’s the clean, glassy window. Combined energy is still strong at 1524, but it won’t feel too wild. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers – good shape, proper push, and clean faces. The morning is your ticket.

Monday, August 17th, morning is also a cracker. Swell 5.2ft, same SW direction, 14-second period, and a light offshore ENE wind at 10 km/h. This is clean, lined-up, and much more user-friendly. Energy is a bit weaker – 911 – but it’s a very, very good option. The afternoon on Monday is smaller and the wind swings a bit cross-shore, so grab the morning.

Tuesday morning, August 18th, is another good one. Swell dips to 4.3ft but the period is still 14 seconds, and the wind is a gentle offshore from the NNE. Clean walls and easy paddling. Energy is still moderate at 1130. It’s an excellent option for a longer, more relaxed session. The water is still around 56.3°.

After that, the swell fades quickly through the rest of that week. By Wednesday the 19th, it’s dropping to 3.3ft and under, with the period staying long. It’s clean, but the size is getting small and weak. The energy drops right off – 499 and then 379. Still, there are clean waves to be had if you’ve got a bigger board. Thursday and Friday look small but clean as well, with the size hovering around 2.6ft to 4.6ft. Friday morning sees a little pulse of 4.6ft, and with a 16-second period, it might break a bit straighter at the beach, but it’s still clean and okay.

The real problem comes on the 23rd and 24th. The swell is tiny, 3ft and under, but the wind goes ballistic – 40-45 km/h from the north. That’s a strong breeze and it’s just blown-out mayhem. The energy is weak – 348, 376, 368 – and there’s nothing to surf. Honestly, that looks more interesting for kitesurfing than paddle surfing.

Then, there’s a strange blip at the very end. On Wednesday afternoon, August 26th, the forecast throws a

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