81st Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s be straight with you – the next couple of weeks at 81st Street are looking pretty flat and sad for us. There’s no real surf to get excited about, with tiny, weak swells and a whole lot of nothing happening. It’s the kind of stretch where you’re better off finding something else to do.

We start off from Tuesday, July 28, with tiny waves around 1ft from the ESE. That little bit of energy (27 combined energy) is just not enough. The wind is cross-offshore early, but it’s not helping make anything rideable. As the week goes on, through Wednesday and Thursday, we get a mix of cross-shore and glassy conditions, but the swell stays pathetic – never cracking 3ft. Thursday afternoon turns glassy, which would be a treat if there was any wave to ride, but with just 1ft and 23 combined energy, it’s a total dud.

Friday, July 31, through to the weekend, it’s the same story. Tiny 1.0ft to 1ft swells with combined energy barely getting into the 20s and 30s. The winds flip around a bit, but no amount of clean conditions can fix this lack of swell. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing wild there.

We get a slight pulse on Monday, August 3, with a clean 3ft from the ESE on the morning offshore breeze, and the combined energy climbs to 45. It’s surfable but very ordinary. It’s weak, short period swell at 5 seconds, so don’t expect any punch. Tuesday the 4th has some clean moments in the morning, but again, 2ft isn't going to get your heart racing.

After that, from Wednesday, August 5, right through to August 12, it’s a long, boring stretch. Waves stay between 1.0ft and 3ft, with energy figures that are mostly in the teens and twenties. Winds are often onshore or cross-onshore, making it even messier. The last day, August 12 Wednesday morning, has a clean 1.0ft with offshore wind, but it’s way too small.

The only real standout? If you absolutely have to get wet, Monday, August 3, is the pick of a terrible bunch. The morning session at 81st Street will see a clean 3ft from the ESE on a light offshore wind. It’s not going to be memorable, but it’s the best you’ll get in this whole 16-day window. Even then, it’s beginner-level stuff and the spot is inconsistent anyway, so don’t expect much. Crowds are possible but with surf this small, they’ll be the patient types.

Everything else is a write-off. It’s a bleak run, but these things happen. Keep an eye on the forecasts – a flat spell like this doesn’t usually last forever.

Rusty

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