Rye Ocean Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again. Let's talk about the next couple of weeks at Rye Ocean Beach.

We’ve got a bit of chop to start, but there’s a real sweet spot coming up for the experienced crew.

Friday, July 31st kicks things off. The morning is a bit messy with a cross breeze, but the swell is already a decent 5ft from the SW (combined energy of 715). The real story is Friday afternoon – the wind drops to nothing, going glassy. That’s a massive plus. You’ve got a clean 4ft SW swell with a 12-second period, and with the energy at 648, it’s not the biggest, but those conditions are going to make it feel like a million bucks. For a beginner-friendly spot, this is a great window to get wet.

Saturday, August 1st is a tale of two sessions. The morning is clean with a cross-offshore breeze, but the swell is a smaller 4ft. The Saturday afternoon though, is a standout. The swell jumps to 7ft from the SW with a very long 17-second period (combined energy of 2430!). That’s proper groundswell. The wind is a clean cross-off at 12 mph. The water temp is about average for the time of year. This is a big, powerful swell for Rye, and it’s going to be a bit much for the beginners. For the experienced surfer, this is the best on offer in the first week. The long period means it’ll be a bit walled at the beach, but the reefs will be handling it nicely.

Sunday, August 2nd keeps the swell size up around 6ft to 6ft with a strong 16-second period, but the wind is howling at 18-22 mph. It’s still clean-ish, but that’s a stiff breeze. The energy is high (1990), but the wind will make it a battle. This one is for the winter wetsuit warriors only.

From Monday, August 3rd through to Thursday, August 6th the surf quality drops off. The wind swings onshore and the waves get lumpy. The swell is there, but it’s not pretty. There’s a window on Thursday, August 6th afternoon where the wind goes glassy again with a 4ft SW swell, but it’s not the same quality as the Saturday session.

Now, let’s talk about the real highlight. Friday, August 7th. This is the one to circle. Morning and afternoon, the wind is light and cross-offshore. The swell is a solid 4ft to 5ft from the SW, with a 14 to 15-second period. The combined energy is sitting at 1186 and 1167. The forecast says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” This is clean, punchy, and lined up. The water temp is still about average for the time of year. This is the best quality window in the entire 16-day run.

Saturday, August 8th and Sunday, August 9th are still rideable, but the wind gets up again. The swell is still present, but the breeze is making it harder work.

Looking further out, things get interesting but also dangerous. Monday, August 11th morning shows a massive 12ft SW swell with a 16-second period. The combined energy is a whopping 5625. The wind is moderate and cross-shore, but the file says the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. That’s an 12ft wave at a beach and reef setup. This is experts-only territory, and even then, it’s a question of whether it’s breaking too far out or closing out completely. The rest of that week and into the next is a mix of rain and strong onshore winds, with the swell staying big and unruly.

The standout is clear: Friday, August 7th is your best bet for quality, clean surf. The Saturday, August 1st afternoon is the best for powerful, long-period swell, but it’s for the big dogs only.

Rusty out.

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