Rye Ocean Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty here, and I’ve been looking over the charts for Rye Ocean Beach. Honestly, the first week is a bit of a bust for clean, rideable surf. The swell is pumping, but it’s way too big and the wind is all over the place. The real standout doesn’t show up until the second week, so we’ve got to be patient.

The pattern starts with a big, powerful SW groundswell on Tuesday the 1st. The combined energy is already pushing 1657 (moderate to strong), but with a 25 mph cross-off wind, it’s a blown-out mess. The water is 56°, which is about average for the time of year, so no nasty surprises. The swell is too big for beginners at 6 ft, and with a 15-second period, it’s proper groundswell. The spot is a beach and reef, so that long period might make the waves a bit straight and tricky. Wednesday the 2nd and Thursday the 3rd see the swell jacking up to 7 ft–13 ft, but the wind is cross-on and strong, blowing the surf out. The combined energy on Thursday afternoon hits 10930 (very strong), but it’s just too messy. By Friday the 4th, the swell is still huge at 10 ft–12 ft, with a 16-second period (groundswell), and the wind is cross-off from the NNW, but the forecast says it’s just too big for this break. Experts only, and even then, it’s a gamble.

The weekend of the 5th and 6th is a washout. Saturday the 5th has a near gale cross-on wind and a 16 ft swell on the afternoon. That’s not surf, that’s a survival session. The combined energy for that afternoon is 15437 (very strong). Sunday the 6th looks cleaner with a light offshore wind in the afternoon, but the swell is still 7 ft, which is over the limit for this spot. Monday the 7th drops off to 3 ft–4 ft, but it’s weak and inconsistent.

Now, the real highlight. After a long gap of poor conditions, we get a day of absolute magic. On Sunday the 13th, the morning is glassy – no wind at all, 0 mph. The swell is a clean 5 ft from the SW, with a 13-second period. The combined energy is 863 (moderate), and the forecast says “expect very good surf conditions.” This is the one. It’s small enough for a beginner to have a go, but with that period, there’s still some push. The afternoon stays clean with a light cross-off breeze. This is the best on offer, no question. The rest of the week after that is either too big or too windy, so this Sunday morning is the session to circle.

In summary, don’t bother with the first week unless you’re a masochist. Wake up early on Sunday the 13th for the glassy, clean waves at Rye Ocean Beach. It’s a rare gem in a rough forecast period.

Rusty.

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