81st Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s on offer for 81st Street over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this is a tough stretch. We’re looking at a solid 16-day window, but the surf is small and pretty uninspiring for the entire run. The combined swell energy never really gets out of the weak category, mostly sitting in the double digits, with a few mid-50s readings in the first few days, then dropping right back down. The best energy we see is a weak 61 (moderate wave energy) on Wednesday afternoon, but even that’s with a tiny 3ft swell.

The water temp is sitting at 79°F with a anomaly of 0.7°F, so it’s right on the money for this time of year.

For the first week, from Tuesday the 4th through to Sunday the 9th, we’ve got tiny waves. The biggest push is Wednesday afternoon with 3ft from the SSE, but the period is a short 6 seconds, so it’s gonna be weak and crumbly. Winds are mostly cross-off or offshore, which keeps it clean, but there’s just not enough size to get excited about. Friday morning the 7th has a nice 2ft swell with a clean offshore breeze from the WSW, but it’s still only 2ft. You’d be on a longboard and happy to be out, but it’s not turning any heads.

Then we hit a real dry spell. From Monday the 10th all the way through to Wednesday the 19th, the swell drops even further. We’re talking 0.7ft to 2ft for the entire second week. There are some offshore wind periods, like on the 12th with a fresh 19 mph offshore, but with waves under 2ft, it’s barely rideable. The crowds are listed as “sometimes,” so you won’t have to fight for a peak, but honestly, there’s barely a peak to fight for.

The standout window, if you can even call it that, is the first few days. Wednesday the 5th offers the best combination of size and clean conditions. The swell is 3ft from the SSE, and with a cross-off breeze, it’s your best bet for a few grovelly ones. But let’s not kid ourselves – this is a beginner-friendly spot (81st Street is rated for beginners), and the conditions are “poor surf conditions” across the board. The swell direction is from the SE and SSE, which is fine for the exposed setup here, but the optimum swell is from the ESE, so we’re not even getting the best angle.

For a confirmed spot that’s inconsistent, this is a classic blank run. It’s not a surprise for this area when the forecasts look this flat. The second week is a total write-off for any proper surfing. The setup looks more interesting for a kite than a paddle, given the small, clean, windy conditions.

Honestly, I’d say save your energy. The forecasts can change, but right now, there’s nothing to chase.

Rusty.

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