New Hampshire
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.
Sun, May 10: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with 11mph from the SSE.
Mon, May 11: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. The sweet spot is around midday — 2-3ft waves, 10mph WNW winds, fair conditions. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Fair. The sweet spot is around midday — 2-3ft waves, light winds out of the NW, fair conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. The sweet spot is around midday — 1-2ft waves, light SSE winds, 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.
Thu, May 14: 3–4ft, 7s period, rated Poor. 3-4ft waves to start the day on ESE swell at 10s.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
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 7.95s 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 Rye Rocks is 1-2ft, produced by a 2.2ft ESE primary swell at 8s, a 0.3ft ESE secondary swell at 13s, a 1.8ft SE 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 Rye Rocks is Friday from 1 PM to 4 PM with 3ft waves, a 8.8s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
