Surf Forecasts:
81st Street surf forecast from 6 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 6s period, E swell with 200 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for 81st Street this week:
The most powerful waves expected at 81st Street in the next 16 days are 1.6m 6s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for 81st Street over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is going to be a tough one, folks. Rusty here. For the next 16 days, 81st Street is pretty much a write-off for any decent paddle surfing. There’s a big gap right at the start with nothing worth mentioning, and then a long, frustrating stretch of tiny, wind-affected dribble. You’re looking at a solid week and a half of nothing doing before we even get a glimmer of hope.
The surf just isn't cooperating. The first real chance we get is Monday the 14th of September, and even then, it’s only a tiny 2ft swell from the east with a short period.
The water is a balmy 81°, which is a massive 5° warmer than normal for this time of year. It feels like a bath out there, but unfortunately, the bathwater isn't moving.
The whole first week is a frustrating mix of nothing and onshore chop. We get a tiny pulse of 3ft on the 11th, but it’s from the north-northeast with a short period, and the wind is junk. That same story repeats. Then on the 12th, the swell bumps up to 5ft from the east-northeast, but the combined energy is only 171 (moderate) and the wind is howling onshore. That’s a blown-out mess and honestly, looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
The real downer is that 81st Street is an exposed beach break, and it’s inconsistent. It needs a clean, east-southeast swell to really work, but we’re not getting it. The onshore winds are just wrecking everything.
Now, if you’re patient, and I mean *really* patient, there’s something to keep an eye on. The 18th of September, a Friday morning, shows a glimmer of hope. We’ve got a 4ft groundswell from the east with a period of 9 seconds, the combined energy jumps to 243 (moderate), and the wind is a light cross-offshore breeze from the west-northwest. That is the only standout window in the whole forecast. The waves will be clean, but at 4ft, it’s a small day for a beginner, and crowds are possible. The best of it will be early, before the sea breeze kicks in. The next morning, the 19th, also looks promising with a similar 4ft east swell and clean morning winds from the south-southwest.
So, the honest truth? There’s only one true standout: the morning of the 18th of September. It’s a long way off, but it’s the only time the stars align. Don’t hold your breath for the rest of it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 28°C on Sat afternoon, min 23°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 33°C on Thu afternoon, min 22°C on Wed morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Wed morning, fresh winds from the SSW by Thu night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | ENE 5 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SE 3 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SSE 6 | NNE 4 | NNE 5 | NE 4 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 6 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 13 | 34 | 33 | 50 | 35 | 17 | 16 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 72 | 40 | 36 | 14 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | glassy | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 3:54PM1.01m | 4:26AM0.79m | 5:06PM1.02m | 5:37AM0.84m | 6:11PM1.04m | 6:40AM0.91m | 7:09PM1.06m | 7:35AM0.98m | 8:00PM1.07m | 8:25AM1.04m | 8:46PM1.06m | 9:11AM1.09m | 9:30PM1.04m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:17PM0.21m | 10:05AM0.15m | 11:22PM0.16m | 11:18AM0.12m | 00:19AM0.11m | 12:23PM0.07m | 1:09AM0.05m | 1:21PM0.03m | 1:55AM0.01m | 2:13PM0.01m | 2:37AM-0.01m | 3:02PM0.01m | 3:17AM-0.00m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — |
 | 7:27 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — | — | 7:19 | — | — | 7:17 | — |
mm | 4 | 7 | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 33 | 31 | 24 | 26 | 26 |
Feels °C | 29 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 25 | 31 | 28 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | E 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SE 5 | ENE 9 | SE 5 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 |
| kJ | 4 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 50 | 35 | 6 | 16 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 72 | 6 | 3 | 4 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | E 10 | S 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 5 | SE 5 | ENE 9 | SE 5 | ENE 9 | ESE 7 | ESE 9 | SE 7 | E 9 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 |
| kJ | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 17 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 8 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 6 | S 6 | E 8 | S 6 | S 5 | S 6 | — | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ENE 6 | SE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 10 | NE 7 | E 9 | — | E 8 | — | E 11 | E 11 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 6 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | — | 2 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 3 | ENE 2 | — | NNE 2 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | ENE 5 | — | — | — | SSE 3 | SW 2 | SE 3 | SSW 5 | SSW 4 | S 5 | WSW 4 | NNE 4 | NNE 5 | NE 4 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 13 | 34 | 33 | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 11 | 69 | 31 | 27 | 8 | 40 | 36 | 14 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2221 | 254 | 470 | 530 | 338 | 280 | 407 | 164 | 126 | 2861 | 4 | 91 | 490 | 887 | 223 | 367 | 10 | 126 | 310 | 627 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Virginia | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the 81st Street Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for 81st Street provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at 81st Street can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our 81st Street surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (81st Street) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for 81st Street may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
81st Street is 4 km (2 miles) from the city of Pylos. If you plan a vacation in Virginia, look for hotels and other accommodation in Pylos. Pylos has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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