81st Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. Rusty here, and I’ll tell you straight up: this is a tough stretch. We’re looking at a solid 16-day window, but honestly, there’s barely a whisper of swell for most of it. The first real suggestion of anything surfable doesn’t show up until Saturday the 8th of August, and even then, it’s barely a ripple.

Overall Pattern
For the first nine days, from Thursday the 30th of July right through to Friday the 7th of August, it’s a flat spell. We’re talking tiny, weak swell with heights under 3 ft, mostly around 1 ft to 2 ft, and periods bouncing between 4 and 9 seconds. The combined energy readings are all in the double digits—20s, 30s, 40s, even a few in the teens—which is textbook weak energy. The wave comments are all “poor surf conditions” or “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” There’s just nothing to get excited about. The wind is mostly cross-off or cross, but with no swell, it doesn’t matter.

The Only Real Highlight
The only time the charts show a pulse is on Wednesday the 12th of August. That morning and afternoon, 81st Street sees a bit of life. The swell picks up to 3 ft from the SE, with a period of 6 seconds—short period, so it’s a bit crumbly and not super powerful. The combined energy climbs to 60 and 62, which is still weak, but it’s the highest we see. The wind is light and cross-off, so it’ll be clean. The wave comment even says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” This is the best we’ve got, and it’s a long way off.

The Gap
From now until the 8th of August, it’s a nine-day dry spell with no real surf. Then there’s a bit of a tease on the 8th with a 1 ft wave, but it’s nothing special. The real, barely-there pulse is on the 12th.

Breakdown
- 81st Street: This is the only spot in the mix. It’s an exposed beach break, inconsistent, and best for beginners when it’s small. The swell direction is ESE, which is a bit off the optimum, and the period is short, so don’t expect any power. The water temperature is a warm 77°, which is about 2° cooler than normal for this time of year—nothing unusual, just a touch on the fresh side for a summer swim.

The Verdict
Honestly, if you’re a surfer, this is a 16-day stretch to take the board off the car, fix that ding, and wait. The only day that might be worth a paddle is Wednesday the 12th of August, and even then, it’s a beginner-friendly, knee-high dribble. If you’re a kite surfer, the onshore and cross-shore winds on the afternoons could be more interesting than the surf. But for a proper wave? Not this time.

Rusty.

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