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.
Wed, Jun 24: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with calm winds.
Thu, Jun 25: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with gentle NE breeze. Afternoon breeze fills in to 14mph.
Fri, Jun 26: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2ft on SSE swell at 8s with 8mph from the SSE. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Sat, Jun 27: 1–1ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with barely a breath of wind. Expect the wind to bump up to around 8mph by PM.
Sun, Jun 28: 1–1ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1ft and poor conditions with calm winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 11mph.
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 1-2ft with a 6.65s swell period. Wind is WSW at 7mph 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 1-2ft, produced by a 1.8ft SSE primary swell at 7s, a 2ft S wind swell swell at 4s. 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 Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 5.3s 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.
