Rye Ocean Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for Rye Ocean Beach over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – it’s going to be a long wait for the good stuff.

We kick off the outlook on Thursday, the 23rd of July, but don’t get your hopes up. The first week is pretty much a write-off. We’ve got a solid 10ft to 12ft SW groundswell rolling in, but it’s coming in with a 15 second period, which means it’s got some serious energy behind it. The problem is the wind – it’s howling out of the W and WSW at 18 to 25 mph, putting it right on the cross. The water temp is sitting at 57°, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so nothing unusual there. The surf is just plain messy and lumpy. This ain't a beginner's day; the swell’s too big and the wind’s too strong. Frankly, it looks more interesting for the kite surfers than us paddle types.

Saturday morning stays lumpy, but by Saturday afternoon we get a brief shift to onshore wind from the WSW at 15 mph. The swell is still 10ft from the SW, but the wave comment says "poor surf conditions", so the quality just isn't there.

We finally get a break from the worst of the wind on Sunday, the 26th of July. The swell drops to 6ft in the morning, but the wind is a cross-shore from the WNW. The afternoon session looks a bit more promising with a 7ft SW swell and a gentler cross-shore breeze. The comment says the swell is predicted to be too big for this break, so even though it’s a bit cleaner, it’s still a challenging one.

The beginning of the following week, Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th, sees the swell drop to a more manageable 5ft. The wind turns cross-offshore from the NNW, which cleans things up nicely. But the surf is still rated as marginal, and the energy is weak. It’s small, clean, but not really firing.

Then we get another big pulse of energy. Wednesday the 29th of July sees a massive 18ft SW groundswell (16-second period). The wind is a strong cross-onshore from the SSW at 28-31 mph. This is a beast, but it’s blown out. The rest of the week into early August is a parade of cross-onshore winds and lumpy, messy surf, with the swell hovering around 4ft to 8ft. Not worth paddling out for.

Now, for the true standout. Listen up, because this is the one. On Thursday, the 6th of August, we get a clean, offshore wind from the NNE at just 6 mph. The swell is 6ft from the SW with a 15-second period, and it’s got some power. The report says "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers" – and that’s the call. The wind is light and offshore, the swell has power and direction. It’s the best on offer in this whole 16-day window. The following Friday, the 7th, also looks promising with a moderate offshore wind from the ENE at 15 mph and a 5ft SW swell. That’s a solid second option.

So, to sum it up: you’ve got a long, ugly patch of lumpy, windy, and oversized surf for the first week and a half. The real prize is just a bit further out. Mark your calendar for Thursday, the 6th of August, morning session at Rye Ocean Beach. Light offshore, clean lines, and a solid SW groundswell. That’s the one you wait for.

Rusty.

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