New Hampshire
Hold off if you can — morning starts out very poor with 1-2ft waves.
Hold off if you can — morning starts out very poor with 1-2ft waves.
Best window·Monday 6AM–9AM·2-3ft·Fair - Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Rye Rocks, New Hampshire. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Skip the dawn patrol — 1-2ft and very poor early on. Later in the day looks more promising — 1-2ft and poor.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on ESE swell at 6s with barely a breath of wind. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and very poor conditions with moderate N wind around 12mph.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Very Poor. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on ENE swell at 6s with strong N wind at 19mph. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 10s period, rated Fair - Good. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on E swell at 10s with 12mph NW winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor today — get one free email when Rye Rocks turns Good.
Check Rye Rocks from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Rye Rocks is a rocky reef break located along New Hampshire's short Atlantic coastline, offering consistent waves during northeastern swells. The break works best when autumn storms push quality swell into the region, creating hollow waves over the exposed rock formations that characterize this rugged stretch of coast. This is a solid intermediate spot with relatively light crowds, making it a worthwhile alternative to the more crowded New England breaks to the north.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Rye Rocks is 1-2ft with a 4.5s swell period. Wind is ESE at 4mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Rye Rocks is 1-2ft, produced by a 2.2ft SE wind swell swell at 5s, a 1.4ft ESE 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 Rye Rocks is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 9.7s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Rye Rocks works best with a NE swell and WNW 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 Rye Rocks. 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.
Rye Rocks is a reef with a rock bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Rye Rocks is a rocky reef break located along New Hampshire's short Atlantic coastline, offering consistent waves during northeastern swells. The break works best when autumn storms push quality swell into the region, creating hollow waves over the exposed rock formations that characterize this rugged stretch of coast. This is a solid intermediate spot with relatively light crowds, making it a worthwhile alternative to the more crowded New England breaks to the north.
The prime season at Rye Rocks 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 Rye Rocks include rocks, sea urchins, sharp reef, strong currents, cold water. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Rye Rocks 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).
