81st Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve got to be straight with ya – the next 16 days at 81st Street look like a real struggle. There’s a long, flat patch to start with no real surf on offer. The first glimmer of something worth paddling out for doesn’t show up until Monday the 17th of August, and even then it’s a tough sell.

We begin with nothing of consequence. From Friday the 14th right through to Sunday the 16th, it’s all tiny closeouts and poor conditions – tiny dribbles around 0.3 ft to 1 ft, mostly onshore or cross-shore winds, and combined energy is barely registering (6-52). Not worth getting wet for.

Monday the 17th finally sees a bump – 2 ft to 3 ft of SE swell, small but at least there’s a bit of shape. The morning brings a light offshore (NW at 6 mph) and clean conditions, with combined energy around 45 (moderate). It’s surfable but very ordinary. The afternoon gets a bit messy with a light cross-onshore. Not a standout, but if you’re desperate, the Monday dawn patrol might offer a knee-high wave.

The rest of that week and into the next is pretty grim. The combined energy stays weak (mostly under 100) and the winds are often onshore or cross-onshore. There’s a moment on Sunday the 23rd of August that catches the eye – flat but glassy morning with calm wind and a 13-second period groundswell from the E, but only 0.7 ft. It’s a tease – the energy is just not there (22).

Then, on Friday the 28th of August, something a bit more solid shows up. A 5 ft ENE swell kicks in, with combined energy jumping to a moderate-strong 152 (morning) and 165 (afternoon). But the period is short (6 seconds) and the wind is onshore for the morning (NE at 6 mph) and cross-onshore for the afternoon (ESE at 12 mph), so it’ll be choppy and messy. This one’s really just for the seasoned locals who don’t mind a bit of a wash-out.

The only semi-decent option across the whole outlook is Saturday the 29th of August. A 3 ft ENE swell, a light cross-offshore breeze from the SSW at 6 mph, and clean conditions. The combined energy is 100 (moderate), but the period is still a short 6 seconds, so don’t expect any real power. It’s surfable, but ordinary. If you’re going to pick a time to have a paddle, the morning of Saturday the 29th is your best bet – it’s the only real glimmer in a long, flat spell.

Crowds at 81st Street can show up sometimes, but honestly, with this quality, you’ll probably have it to yourself.

So that’s the story – a long dry spell, a few half-hearted bumps, and one okay-ish morning two weeks out. Forecasts can always change, but right now, I’d keep your board in the car and your eyes on the horizon.

Rusty.

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