Rye Ocean Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Rusty here, lookin’ at a mixed bag of a start here, but there’s some good waves comin’ for Rye Ocean Beach. We’ve got a massive pulse of south-west swell due mid-week, but it’ll be too big and messy for most. The real magic comes after it settles down.

This spot is a beach and reef setup, and the optimum angle for the swell is from the south-west, which is exactly what we’ve got comin’.

Alright, let’s start at the beginning. Tuesday the 11th is a write-off – raw 5ft to 6ft south-west swells, but the wind is a choppy cross-off at best, and the water is just churned up. The wave energy is pretty high for these conditions (1144 to 1200), but it’s not useable.

Wednesday and Thursday (12th and 13th) are for the brave or the foolish, not the everyday surfer. The swell jacks up to 10ft straight from the south-west and the energy is massive (8001 on Wednesday afternoon, 4712 Thursday morning). The wind is onshore or cross-shore strong, so it’ll be a washing machine. Unless you’re a tow-in expert, stay on the sand.

Friday (14th) and Saturday (15th) are still big – 8ft to 10ft south-west swell, energy still pumping (over 4000). The wind eases a bit, but it’s still onshore and the sets are too heavy for a longboard or a learner. The swell period is a long 15 to 16 seconds, so those waves have serious punch. For a bigger, stronger surfer the early sessions might be worth a paddle, but it’s a gamble.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting.

Sunday the 16th is the turning point. The swell drops to a more manageable 6ft, still from the south-west, but the wind goes offshore from the east-north-east! That’s clean, lined-up surf. The energy is down to 1316, which is still solid. The low tide might be a factor but an experienced surfer will find some proper, open-faced walls. The clean, glassy conditions on offer are a major plus. This session is a standout for experienced surfers.

Monday morning the 17th is even better. The swell eases to 5ft, with that beautiful east-north-east offshore breeze at 9 mph, making it super clean. The swell period is a nice 15 seconds, giving you that long, groundswell pulse. (1060 energy). This is textbook Rye Ocean Beach – punchy, clean, and not too crowded. Rye (this spot) can get crowded sometimes, so get down there early.

Tuesday the 18th keeps the winning streak. A light north-east offshore in the morning is just perfect. The swell is 4ft to 5ft from the south-west, with a very long 15 to 17 second period. That long period will make the waves peel better over the reef sections, but it can also make the beach breaks a bit straight. Still, a light-offshore morning with 4ft glassy waves? That’s a can’t-miss session. Energy is around 1102.

The surf then slowly fades through the middle of the third week, dropping to 2ft by the 20th. You’ll find small, clean fun if you’re on a log or a mid-length, but nothing to get amped about.

Later, on Friday the 21st and Saturday the 22nd, there’s a new, smaller pulse of south-west swell, coming in around 3ft to 4ft, with north-north-east winds keeping it clean. It’s not the size of the previous weekend, but for an after-work or a dawn session, it’ll be perfect.

Overall, the standout is the Sunday 16th to Tuesday 18th window, with Sunday and Monday morning offering the best, cleanest, most powerful surf for the experienced surfer.

Rusty.

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