
Surf Forecasts:
81st Street surf forecast from 4 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 4 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 7s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s period, SE swell with 57 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 4 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 7s period with SE 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 2PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 7s period. 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 0.7m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be 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+) | 2PM (Tue 4th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Tue 4th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for 81st Street over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
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.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 33°C on Thu afternoon, min 24°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 34°C on Sat afternoon, min 24°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 4 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SSE 4 | E 11 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SE 7 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 5 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | E 11 | S 6 | E 10 | SSE 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
48 | 29 | 52 | 34 | 30 | 12 | 39 | 38 | 2 | 31 | 14 | 14 | 51 | 28 | 26 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 26 | 2 | 26 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross | off |
High Tide | 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 | 5:43AM0.77m | 6:21PM1.05m | 6:48AM0.82m | 7:21PM1.08m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 11:21AM0.05m | 00:36AM0.06m | 12:27PM0.01m | 1:30AM0.01m | ||||||||
6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | |
— | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | |
mm | 2 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 31 | 29 | 27 | 33 | 30 | 29 | 33 | 31 | 28 | 34 | 30 | 27 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 34 | 35 |
Feels °C | 31 | 30 | 27 | 27 | 32 | 30 | 28 | 33 | 30 | 31 | 34 | 30 | 28 | 34 | 33 | 28 | 33 | 33 | 31 | 36 | 36 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | SE 7 | — | SE 6 | — | SE 7 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SE 7 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 5 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | E 10 | S 6 | SE 7 | SSE 6 |
48 | 29 | — | 34 | — | 12 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 31 | 14 | 14 | 51 | 28 | 26 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 26 | 2 | 26 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 14 | E 8 | E 8 | NE 4 | E 8 | E 10 | NE 10 | E 10 | E 11 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SE 7 | E 9 | E 9 | E 11 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 |
4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 12 | E 9 | E 12 | — | — | E 11 | E 11 | — | — | — | — | — | E 8 | — | E 11 | — | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 |
— | — | 3 | 2 | 3 | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 3 | SE 7 | — | SE 4 | SSE 5 | SE 6 | SSE 4 | S 5 | SW 3 | S 4 | S 5 | SW 4 | SSW 4 | SW 3 | SSW 4 | S 4 | S 6 | WSW 4 | S 6 | WSW 3 |
— | 8 | 52 | — | 30 | 38 | 39 | 38 | 49 | 3 | 13 | 43 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 9 | 59 | 7 | 11 | 4 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 363 | 612 | 0 | 575 | 384 | 272 | 2 | 1145 | 272 | 91 | 216 | 174 | 0 | 175 | 0 | 164 | 126 | 174 | 126 | 185 | 558 |
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.











