81st Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let's get into it.

Honestly, the outlook for 81st Street over the next 16 days is a real downer. We are looking at a long stretch of nothing worth getting wet for, with barely a whisper of surf for the first two weeks. The first real chance of anything surfable doesn't show up until the morning of Sunday, the 20th of September, and even then it’s a very ordinary offering.

The water temp is sitting at a very unusual 81°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least it won't be cold while you’re staring at flat waves.

Starting now and through until the 19th of September, it is essentially a flat spell. You’ve got days of tiny 0.6ft to 1ft slop, mostly with short, weak periods of 4 to 10 seconds. The combined swell energy barely ever cracks 100, with most readings sitting between 12 and 102, which is weak to just barely moderate. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, ruining any chance of shape. There is a brief moment on the morning of Thursday, the 10th, with a clean offshore wind from the WSW, but the swell is only 2ft with a 5 second period from the S. That’s not surf, that’s just a bump on the water.

Later in the run, on Thursday, the 17th of September, we see a spike to 4ft from the ENE, with combined energy hitting 128. That is moderate energy, but the wind is cross-onshore and the period is a weak 6 seconds. It’s going to be a messy, choppy mess and it is noted as poor surf conditions. Not one to get excited about.

The only flicker of hope is on the morning of Sunday, the 20th of September. We get a weak 2ft from the E with a short 5 second period, combined energy of just 43 (weak). The wind is a clean cross-offshore from the SSW though. The report calls it "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions". That's about as good as it gets here. It's a beach break and it’s very inconsistent, so don't expect much. It might offer a few tiny, weak rollers for a beginner to practice on, but that is being generous.

Overall, this is a tough stretch. With only a couple of days offering anything at all, and those days being marginal at best, you’re better off doing something else. If you’re a kite surfer, the afternoon of the 7th of September has 3ft onshore wind and might give you something to do, but for a paddle surfer, this is a write-off. Forecasts can change, but right now, there's nothing to chase.

Rusty.

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