81st Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s look at what’s in store for 81st Street. I’m not gonna lie, the next couple of weeks are looking pretty flat. 81st Street is an inconsistent spot, and this forecast is a real test of patience. The short story is: don’t get your hopes up.

We’re starting from Thursday, 23 July, and it’s a rough open. Winds are cross-on or onshore, with wind speeds around 12 to 15 mph, and the swell is barely registering. We’re looking at 2 ft of short-period SE swell with a period of 7 seconds. The combined energy is a weak 86, and it’s just messy. The weather is heavy rain, and the surf is poor. Not a single board to be waxed.

Through Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the pattern stays the same. Swell sizes hover around 1 ft to 3 ft, with periods stuck at 5 to 8 seconds. The winds are onshore or cross-onshore, with a light to moderate breeze. The water’s about average for this time of year, so no help there. The combined energy drops even lower, down to 38 on the Sunday afternoon. It’s all poor surf conditions.

We finally get a glimmer of hope on Monday, 27 July. The morning is clean, with a light cross-offshore breeze from the South at 9 mph. The swell is still tiny at 1 ft from the ESE, but the period is 7 seconds. The combined energy is a very weak 30. It’s surfable for a longboard maybe, but you’d be scratching for waves. The afternoon is similar, with a cross-shore wind and a combined energy of only 25.

Tuesday, 28 July, is the closest thing to a standout in this whole run. The morning has a light offshore wind from the SW at 9 mph, and the swell bumps up to 3 ft from the SSE. The period is short at 6 seconds, but the wind is offshore and clean. The combined energy hits 46, which is still weak but the best we’ve seen. The afternoon is better: still offshore, 3 ft of S swell, a period of 7 seconds, and the combined energy finally reaches a moderate 150. The report says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” It’s not going to be pumping, but it is the best window for a paddle. The swell direction from the SSE isn’t a perfect match for 81st Street’s optimum from the ESE, but with that offshore wind, the waves will be clean. You might get a few fun ones.

After Tuesday, it’s back to the doldrums. Wednesday, 29 July, has a bit of clean surf in the morning with a cross-offshore wind, but the swell is back down to 3 ft and the energy is 81. The afternoon has a risk of thunderstorms and a combined energy of 51. Thursday through to the end of the forecast, the swell stays tiny, the winds are cross or onshore, and the combined energy is mostly below 50. It’s a long stretch of flatness.

So, the only real highlight is the afternoon of Tuesday, 28 July. It’s not a classic, but it’s the only time the energy and wind line up. For a break that’s inconsistent, this is more of a “maybe” than a guarantee. The setup is a beach, so with the small swell and short period, don’t expect any barrels. It’s a longboarder’s session at best. For the rest of the 16 days, save your wax and your petrol.

Rusty.

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