New York
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.
Sat, May 16: 2–3ft, 10s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on SE swell at 9s with calm winds. The SSE wind kicks in by afternoon — 20mph and poor by then.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSE swell at 6s with light winds out of the WSW. The S wind kicks in by afternoon — 16mph and poor by then.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SSE swell at 8s with gentle NE breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the SE and dropping conditions to poor.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with gentle SW breeze. Expect the wind to bump up to around 11mph by PM.
Wed, May 20: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on S swell at 6s with moderate SW wind around 8mph. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
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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 9.25s swell period. Wind is SSW at 6mph and 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 2.9ft SE primary swell at 9s, a 0.6ft W wind swell swell at 2s. 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 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 6.05s swell period, and conditions rated 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
