New York
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Rockaway for the cleanest windows.
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1ft and mostly poor with calm winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 17mph by PM.
Wed, Jul 1: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with moderate SSW wind around 10mph. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 20mph.
Thu, Jul 2: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. The sweet spot is around midday — 1-2ft waves, 8mph from the WNW, poor - fair conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning. Don't wait too long — the wind comes back up after lunch.
Fri, Jul 3: 1–1ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with 7mph WNW winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 15mph.
Sat, Jul 4: 1–1ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 1ft and very poor with light winds out of the W. Afternoon breeze fills in to 14mph.
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 1ft with a 9.05s swell period. Wind is SSE at 12mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Rockaway is 1ft, produced by a 1.4ft SE primary swell at 9s, a 0.9ft S wind swell swell at 5s. 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 Thursday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 2ft waves, a 6s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
