Rainbow Beach surf forecast

Chicago · Illinois · United States

Today at Rainbow Beach: best around 08:00, 0.0 m at 1 s with offshore wind. Flat for intermediate surfers, flat for beginners, flat for advanced. Updated 20 Oct, 06:50 UTC.

Open the live forecast →

Rainbow Beach surf forecast, next 7 days

The best daylight hour of each day, rated for each level. No day rates Good for intermediate surfers this week.

Model forecast updated 20 Oct, 06:50 UTC. Hour by hour with swell direction, tide and webcams: open the live forecast.

Chicago's south shore faces north-east, straight down the 500 km length of Lake Michigan, so a strong N to NE wind builds a short-period swell that cleans up when the wind backs SW. The groins at South Shore shape peaks, but city rules only allow surfing at Montrose, 57th Street, and (from Labor Day to Memorial Day) Osterman and Rainbow beaches. Rainbow Beach is the legal option on this stretch; expect cold water and no lifeguards.

Break

beach break, lefts and rights; faces NNE

Level

intermediate

Best swell

N, NNE, NE

Best wind

SW, WSW, S (offshore)

Best tide

all tides

Season

Sep-Dec and Mar-May, when north winds blow down the length of Lake Michigan

Typical size

0.5-1.5 m

Crowd

medium

Hazards

Surfing is only allowed at Montrose and 57th Street (Memorial Day-Labor Day) and also at Osterman and Rainbow beaches the rest of the year; not at South Shore; Rock groins and breakwalls; No lifeguards outside summer; Short-period wind swell that builds and drops within hours; Lake water about 1-5 C Dec-Apr, often with shore ice: 5/4 hooded wetsuit, gloves and boots; about 12-18 C in Sep-Oct

Best time to surf Rainbow Beach

For intermediate surfers the best months are March, December to January: in January about 1 days have rideable waves and 0 rate good or better. Beginners find the friendliest waves in December. Experienced surfers looking for size and power: no clear season. Local guides: Sep-Dec and Mar-May, when north winds blow down the length of Lake Michigan.

Water NaN °C in undefined to NaN °C in undefined: 6/5 mm hooded in winter (boots + gloves), 6/5 mm hooded at the warmest.

Days per month, typical of the last three years of wave and wind model data, rated with the same scale as the forecast. Not a forecast: some years are better than others.

Nearby spots

Questions

When is the best time to surf Rainbow Beach?

For intermediate surfers March, December to January; in January about 1 days a month have rideable waves and 0 are good or better. For beginners December. Local guides say: Sep-Dec and Mar-May, when north winds blow down the length of Lake Michigan.

What is the water temperature at Rainbow Beach and which wetsuit do I need?

The sea ranges from about NaN °C in undefined to NaN °C in undefined. Wear a 6/5 mm hooded in the coldest months and a 6/5 mm hooded in the warmest.

Is Rainbow Beach good for beginners?

It is best for intermediate surfers (surfing is only allowed at montrose and 57th street (memorial day-labor day) and also at osterman and rainbow beaches the rest of the year; not at south shore; rock groins and breakwalls).

What swell, wind and tide work best at Rainbow Beach?

N, NNE, NE swell, SW, WSW, S wind (offshore), at all tides. Typical size 0.5-1.5 m.

Live swell, wind, tide, a 14-day outlook, satellite pictures and webcams for Rainbow Beach are in the Surf Spoting app.