81st Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s on the table for 81st Street over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – it’s a lean period.

We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak surf ahead. The water temp is sitting at 79°, which is just about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real chance to even think about paddling out doesn’t arrive until Thursday, September 3rd. That morning, we see a pulse of 3 ft swell from the SE, but it’s a short-period windswell at 5 seconds. The wind is offshore from the SW, blowing at 12 mph, and the combined energy is only 53 – that’s weak. The waves will be surfable, but the conditions are ordinary. It’s a quiet dawn patrol for someone who just needs to get wet.

After that, it’s back to flat or near-flat nothingness for days. The surf stays tiny, mostly 0.7 ft to 1 ft, with poor energy readings in the teens and twenties. The wind is a mess – onshore or cross-onshore – keeping things choppy and messy.

Then, we get a glimmer in the distance. The standout of the entire outlook is on Wednesday, September 9th. The afternoon session brings a 4 ft swell from the SE with a solid 14-second period. That’s a proper groundswell, and the combined energy jumps to 545 – moderate-strong energy. The wind is light cross-onshore from the SE at 6 mph, so it’ll have a few bumps, but the wave quality and power will be a cut above everything else. This is the best window. The 14-second period means the sets will be a bit more lined up, but it’s a beach break, so expect some sections to close out. Still, for an expert, this is the one to circle on the calendar. The morning of the 9th also has a 3 ft swell from the ESE at 14 seconds and 245 energy, but with a cross-shore wind – a decent warm-up.

Beyond that, the surf drops back to tiny, weak, and mostly choppy through the rest of the second week. There’s nothing else worth a second look.

So, to sum it up: the 9th of September is the only real standout. Head out that afternoon if you want a taste of something with a bit of grunt. The rest of the run is a write-off. Keep your eyes on the forecast, but it’s not looking hopeful.

Rusty.

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