
Surf Forecasts:
81st Street surf forecast from 3 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 4 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 7s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 8s period, SSE swell with 303 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 4 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 7s period with SSE 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 Tuesday (Aug 04) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s is also forecast. 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 1.6m 8s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore 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 06) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Tue 4th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Tue 4th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for 81st Street over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s be straight with you—the next 16 days around here are looking pretty bleak. We’re talking about 81st Street, and honestly, there’s not a single session in the whole run that I’d call a standout. The window starts on Monday, August 3rd, but it’s a rough start.
The whole pattern is weak. We get a little bump of energy on Monday with a 5 ft SSE swell, but the wind is a messy cross-off from the SSW at 19 mph, and the period is a short 8 seconds. The combined energy is only 238, which is moderate, but the conditions are described as poor surf. Not what you want. Tuesday afternoon, August 4th, sees a drop to 3 ft from the SE, with a 7-second period, but the wind goes light offshore from the WSW at 3 mph. That’s the cleanest it gets, but the energy is weak at 75, and the waves are just "surfable but very ordinary." It’s a beginner wave, but it’s also inconsistent, so you might be waiting a while.
After that, it’s a long stretch of nothing. From Wednesday, August 5th, all the way through to Tuesday, August 18th, the swell barely kicks above 3 ft, and most days it’s under 2 ft. The wind is either cross-off or onshore, and the energy readings are mostly in the single or low double digits—weak. There’s a moment on Saturday, August 15th afternoon, with glassy conditions from the WNW at 3 mph, but the swell is a pathetic 0.7 ft from the E. You’d need a sea kayak to enjoy that.
The water temperature is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual there. If you’re a beginner, this is a tough stretch because the few small waves we get are inconsistent and rarely break. Honestly, for a spot like this, a blank run is more normal than not. The only bright spot might be for kite surfers if the wind picks up, but for paddle surfing, it’s a no-go.
So, hold tight. It tends not to stay this poor for long, and forecasts can change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 23°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Sun night, calm by Mon night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 32°C on Thu afternoon, min 25°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | ||||||||||||||
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 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 6 | SSE 4 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | E 11 | E 11 | SE 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
303 | 238 | 231 | 210 | 65 | 75 | 93 | 42 | 50 | 64 | 47 | 69 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 16 | 59 | 23 | 14 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:45PM0.90m | 12:15PM0.96m | 00:29AM0.86m | 1:01PM0.97m | 1:19AM0.81m | 1:55PM0.98m | 2:16AM0.77m | 2:56PM0.98m | 3:21AM0.74m | 4:04PM0.99m | 4:32AM0.74m | 5:14PM1.01m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:36AM0.06m | 6:12PM0.14m | 6:17AM0.07m | 7:07PM0.16m | 7:03AM0.08m | 8:08PM0.17m | 7:58AM0.09m | 9:16PM0.18m | 9:02AM0.09m | 10:27PM0.16m | 10:11AM0.08m | 11:35PM0.12m | |||||||
— | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | |
8:09 | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:02 | — | |
mm | — | 3 | — | 3 | — | 2 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 29 | 26 | 28 | 32 | 31 | 28 | 32 | 29 | 29 | 32 | 28 |
Feels °C | 29 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 27 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 29 | 33 | 28 | 31 | 33 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 6 | — | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | SE 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 7 |
— | — | — | 127 | 65 | 75 | 93 | 42 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 16 | 59 | 23 | 14 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | E 13 | E 14 | — | NE 5 | NE 5 | — | — | E 10 | E 11 | E 11 | NE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 |
— | — | — | 4 | 4 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 10 | E 12 | — | E 13 | — | — | E 11 | E 11 | — | — | — | — | E 8 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | — | 3 | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | NNE 2 | — | SW 3 | WSW 3 | SSE 4 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | S 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 4 | S 5 | SW 3 | SSE 4 | S 5 |
303 | 238 | 231 | 210 | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | 50 | 64 | 47 | 69 | 61 | 35 | 17 | 47 | 3 | 15 | 48 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 877 | 923 | 418 | 0 | 304 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 223 | 279 | 0 | 612 | 431 | 404 | 612 | 216 | 0 | 223 | 14 |
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.











