New York
The sweet spot is around midday — 2-3ft waves, 12mph WSW winds, poor conditions.
The sweet spot is around midday — 2-3ft waves, 12mph WSW winds, poor conditions.
Best window·Sunday 2PM–5PM·2-3ft·Fair - Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Rockaway, New York. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Fair. The sweet spot is around midday — 2-3ft waves, strong WSW wind at 14mph, fair conditions. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Aim for the middle of the day — 1-2ft on S swell at 4s with light winds out of the W. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on ESE swell at 7s with 13mph NNW winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Fair. Midday is the call — 2-3ft waves with strong NNE wind at 13mph and fair conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Mon, Sep 7: 1–2ft, 11s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on ESE swell at 10s and 10mph N winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
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Check Rockaway from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Rockaway Beach in Queens, New York is one of the most iconic urban surf destinations on the East Coast, offering long sandy beach breaks that pick up south and southeast swells rolling up from the Atlantic. The spot faces nearly due north along the transect, catching energy that wraps around the barrier island and produces punchy, fast-breaking waves ideal for shortboarding and progression surfing. Fall is prime season when post-hurricane swells and nor'easters push consistent overhead surf through this NYC metro area gem.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Rockaway is 2-3ft with a 5.8s swell period. Wind is WSW at 16mph. Conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Rockaway is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.3ft ESE wind swell swell at 6s, a 1.4ft SE secondary swell at 9s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Rockaway is Sunday from 2 PM to 5 PM with 2ft waves, a 6.2s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Rockaway works best with a S swell and N winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Rockaway. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Rockaway is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Rockaway Beach in Queens, New York is one of the most iconic urban surf destinations on the East Coast, offering long sandy beach breaks that pick up south and southeast swells rolling up from the Atlantic. The spot faces nearly due north along the transect, catching energy that wraps around the barrier island and produces punchy, fast-breaking waves ideal for shortboarding and progression surfing. Fall is prime season when post-hurricane swells and nor'easters push consistent overhead surf through this NYC metro area gem.
The prime season at Rockaway is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Rockaway include strong currents, rip currents, crowds, localism, jellyfish, water quality after heavy rain. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Rockaway forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable; extended forecasts show general trends. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
