Surf Forecasts:
81st Street surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 7s period, SE swell with 35 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for 81st Street this week:
The most powerful waves expected at 81st Street in the next 16 days are 0.6m 7s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for 81st Street over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on offer for 81st Street.
First things first, the water temperature is sitting at 80°, which is just a touch warmer than average for this time of year – a nice little anomaly to start with.
Truth be told, the next week and a half is a write-off. From today, Thursday the 20th of August, right through to the end of the month, it's flat and uninspiring. We're looking at tiny, weak waves, mostly under 2ft, with short, weak periods and onshore or cross-off winds messing up what little is there. The combined wave energy barely registers, staying below 50 for most of that stretch. It's a long, flat gap with nothing worth paddling out for.
Things finally start to stir as we roll into September. On Tuesday the 1st, we get a pulse of just under 4ft swell, but the period is a short 5 seconds and the wind is mostly onshore. The combined energy climbs into the 80s, which is still on the low side, and while the morning has light offshore winds, the quality is just "ordinary." It's a glimmer, but not a real goer.
Then, Wednesday the 2nd of September is where it gets interesting. That morning, we see the best conditions of the whole outlook. The swell bumps up to about 6ft from the ENE – not massive, but solid – and with a slightly better 7-second period. The real winner here is the wind, which shifts to a light SSW cross-offshore breeze, keeping the surface glassy and clean. The combined wave energy hits 313, a moderate level that tells you there's real power in the water. The early report even calls it "good surf conditions." This is the standout. The swell size is manageable for most, but at 6ft, it's pushing beyond beginner territory. For an exposed beach setup like this, that ENE swell with clean offshores is the best we're going to see. The afternoon holds similar size but gets a bit chopped up.
After that peak, things fade again. Thursday and Friday the 3rd and 4th bring 5ft to 4ft swell, but the wind swings back onshore or cross, and conditions go backwards. The energy drops away quickly.
So, if you're hanging for a wave, the only true standout in this whole 16-day window is the morning of Wednesday the 2nd of September. That's your window. Everything else is either flat or messy. Get on it if you can.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 42mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 30°C on Thu afternoon, min 22°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Tue morning. Warm (max 29°C on Sun afternoon, min 23°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 4 | S 5 | ESE 8 | NE 4 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 5 | ESE 13 | E 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SSE 5 | SE 7 | SE 5 | ESE 9 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 35 | 21 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 26 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 19 | 35 | 8 | 16 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 3:06PM0.89m | 3:23AM0.70m | 4:05PM0.87m | 4:24AM0.70m | 5:04PM0.88m | 5:25AM0.73m | 5:58PM0.91m | 6:20AM0.77m | 6:46PM0.94m | 7:08AM0.82m | 7:28PM0.98m | 7:52AM0.87m | 8:08PM1.00m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:22PM0.28m | 9:00AM0.23m | 10:23PM0.29m | 10:00AM0.25m | 11:20PM0.28m | 10:59AM0.24m | 00:10AM0.25m | 11:55AM0.22m | 00:54AM0.21m | 12:44PM0.20m | 1:33AM0.17m | 1:30PM0.16m | 2:09AM0.13m | |||||||
 |  | | |  |  | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — |
 | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — |
mm | — | 22 | — | — | 5 | 4 | 6 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 7 | 4 | — | — | — | 4 |
Temp °C | 30 | 28 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 29 | 27 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
Feels °C | 30 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 22 | 29 | 29 | 25 | 25 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 5 | SE 4 | ESE 9 | NE 6 | NE 5 | NE 5 | S 5 | S 4 | SSE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | SSE 4 | ESE 11 | SSE 5 | SE 7 | SE 5 | ESE 9 |
| kJ | — | 21 | 5 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 26 | 12 | 5 | 11 | 19 | 35 | 7 | 16 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSE 4 | SE 3 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 12 | ESE 7 | ESE 12 | SE 5 | E 7 | ESE 11 | E 6 | ESE 11 | E 11 | NE 3 | — |
| kJ | — | 7 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 5 | 11 | 5 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 2 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 6 | E 15 | E 15 | ESE 9 | SSE 3 | E 13 | NE 5 | ESE 13 | E 8 | ESE 12 | NE 4 | N 4 | — | E 7 | — | E 7 | E 16 | ESE 9 | E 14 |
| kJ | — | 1 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 5 | 14 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | 5 | 8 | 4 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 4 | S 5 | — | NE 4 | — | — | S 3 | S 5 | SW 3 | — | NNW 2 | NW 3 | — | SSE 3 | — | S 4 | SW 3 | NNE 3 | — | SE 5 |
| kJ | 35 | 34 | — | 14 | — | — | 5 | 25 | 2 | — | 1 | 2 | — | 7 | — | 6 | 3 | 2 | — | 6 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 793 | 793 | 1224 | 2474 | 254 | 91 | 14 | 338 | 271 | 271 | 152 | 126 | 164 | 345 | 271 | 304 | 92 | 190 | 585 | 350 |
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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