Surf Forecasts:
81st Street surf forecast from 15 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 20 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 20 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period, ESE swell with 140 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 20 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period with ESE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for 81st Street this week:
The surf forecast for 81st Street over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 20) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 7s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at 81st Street in the next 16 days are 1.1m 7s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 20) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 20) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Sun 20th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sun 20th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sun 20th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for 81st Street over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab your coffee, mate, Rusty here. Let's look at what's ahead for the next couple weeks.
First up, 81st Street is a beginner spot and it’s inconsistent, so you can’t just rock up whenever. The water’s currently sitting at 80°F, which is *much warmer than normal* for this time of year – a solid 6°F above average, so maybe leave the wetsuit at home.
Honestly, for the first week and a half, it’s a tough watch. You’ve got a solid gap here until any real hope shows up. We're looking at almost nothing worth paddling for until Sunday the 20th. Up until then, the swell is tiny – all under 3ft – and what little energy is there is weak (values of 16 to 83). Plus the wind is mostly onshore or cross-shore. It’s just messy.
Sunday the 20th morning is the first flicker. We get a bump to 4ft from the east with moderate wave energy (134). The wind goes clean and cross-offshore from the south. It's surfable, but the conditions are described as *very ordinary*. It’s not a standout.
Monday the 21st morning looks better with the wind turning offshore from the west, glassing things up. The swell is small, just 2ft from the east, and the energy is weak (59). Clean, but small.
Now. The real standout here is Saturday the 26th. This is your window. Saturday morning shows a solid 4ft ENE swell with strong energy (236) and clean conditions as the wind goes cross-offshore from the southwest. But the absolute pick is Saturday afternoon: 4ft from the NE, energy is still strong (225), and the wind turns offshore from the WSW. The wave comment says *expect good surf conditions*. This is the best on offer for the whole 16 days. For a beginner spot, this is overhead, so it’s pushing the limit for learners. But for anyone with a bit of time in the water, this is the one to circle.
After that, the last few days of September fall apart again. Sunday the 27th through Wednesday the 30th see rising winds – 19 to 25 mph – and the conditions turn lumpy and messy. Not your friend.
So, to wrap it. The whole 16-day run is a long, slow grind with one clear pocket of quality. Don't hold your breath for the first two weeks. Wait for Saturday the 26th afternoon at 81st Street. That’s your shot.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Fri morning, min 20°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 28°C on Fri afternoon, min 23°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 6 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | E 5 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 41 | 68 | 38 | 25 | 16 | 7 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 29 | 131 | 134 | 67 | 34 | 46 | 48 | 30 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | on | on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 00:12AM0.84m | 12:39PM0.99m | 00:55AM0.80m | 1:26PM0.94m | 1:44AM0.76m | 2:19PM0.91m | 2:41AM0.74m | 3:18PM0.89m | 3:44AM0.74m | 4:19PM0.90m | 4:48AM0.77m | 5:15PM0.92m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:03PM0.19m | 5:50AM0.17m | 6:50PM0.26m | 6:33AM0.22m | 7:42PM0.31m | 7:21AM0.27m | 8:39PM0.34m | 8:18AM0.31m | 9:39PM0.35m | 9:21AM0.32m | 10:37PM0.33m | 10:25AM0.31m | 11:27PM0.29m | |||||||
 |  | | | | | | | | |  | | | |  |  |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — |
 | 7:12 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:08 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:06 | — | — | 7:04 | — | — | 7:02 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 7 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 28 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
Feels °C | 20 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 25 | 30 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 6 | E 7 | ESE 9 | E 11 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 |
| kJ | 7 | 68 | 38 | 25 | 16 | 7 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 134 | 67 | 34 | 46 | 48 | 30 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 15 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | E 8 | SE 5 | E 13 | ESE 6 | S 4 | E 12 | ESE 7 | ESE 12 | E 12 | E 12 | — | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | ENE 6 | S 4 |
| kJ | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 5 | 14 | 11 | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | E 13 | E 8 | E 9 | E 13 | E 12 | SE 9 | ESE 12 | ESE 8 | — | — | — | — | E 11 | ESE 11 | — | E 10 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 4 | 5 | 2 | 13 | 12 | 3 | 14 | 7 | — | — | — | — | 9 | 11 | — | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 3 | S 4 | W 3 | — | NE 3 | ENE 4 | E 5 | E 7 | — | SSE 4 | S 4 | S 4 | SE 3 | — |
| kJ | 41 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 13 | 1 | — | 3 | 9 | 29 | 131 | — | 29 | 21 | 4 | 2 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2903 | 388 | 264 | 1140 | 255 | 91 | 793 | 60 | 152 | 562 | 190 | 735 | 474 | 255 | 0 | 32 | 2 | 0 | 247 | 0 |
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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