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.
Sun, May 10: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Not the most exciting day — 3-4ft and poor - fair conditions with 10mph SE winds.
Mon, May 11: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Steady 2-3ft waves on offer on SE swell at 7s — light winds out of the N.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with moderate N wind around 9mph.
Wed, May 13: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on ESE swell at 7s with 13mph SSW winds. The SSE wind kicks in by afternoon — 25mph and poor by then.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SSE swell at 6s with 11mph from the SW. Onshore flow builds through the day to 19mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
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 3-4ft with a 8s swell period. Wind is SE at 9mph and conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Rockaway is 3-4ft, produced by a 3.5ft SSE primary swell at 8s. 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 Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 7.5s 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.
