Surf Forecasts:
81st Street surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 8s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period, SE swell with 118 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 8s period with ESE 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.7m and 4s 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 0.9m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) 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 0.7m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for 81st Street over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.
Truth be told, the next 16 days are looking pretty quiet around here. We’ve got a long stretch of small, messy conditions with hardly any real juice to get excited about. The consistency is a problem – it’s mostly inconsistent, and the swell just doesn’t have the energy to make it worth paddling out for most of the time. The first surfable suggestion doesn’t even pop up until Tuesday, September 1st, and even then, it’s only a 1/10.
81st Street is the only spot on the cards. The swell starts off tiny, around 1 ft to 1 ft, mostly from the ESE and SE, with periods all over the place. The combined swell energy is weak, sitting between 15 and 95 for most of the first week, so don’t expect any push. The wind is a major letdown too – mostly cross or onshore, with only a few moments of clean conditions. The water temperature is about average for this time of year.
The first real glimmer comes on Tuesday, September 1st, in the morning. The swell is still tiny at 1 ft, but it’s from the ESE with a very long period of 15 seconds – that’s a groundswell. The wind is offshore from the west, so it’ll be clean. The energy is still weak (59), but for a long-period groundswell, it might offer a few better-shaped waves at a point or reef, if there were any around. At a beach break like this, that long period can make it break a bit straight.
The next standout is Wednesday, September 2nd, in the morning. Again, small swell at 1 ft from the ESE, but with a period of 12 seconds and a light cross-offshore breeze from the WNW. The combined energy ramps up a bit to 95, which is still weak but better. The conditions will be clean, so if you’re desperate for a splash, this is your window.
The best of the whole run, and the only one worth getting up for, is Friday, September 4th, in the morning. The swell finally bumps up to 4 ft from the ENE. The period is a short 5 seconds, which means it’ll be a bit crumbly, but the wind is light and cross-offshore from the WNW, so it’ll be clean. The combined energy hits 124, which is moderate, so there’s enough to push a small wave. For a beginner spot, this is the most accessible it gets in the whole 16 days, but watch out – the crowds can be around sometimes.
Saturday, September 5th, morning is also a decent call. The swell drops to 3 ft from the ENE, with a 7-second period. Offshore wind from the west, clean conditions, and moderate energy at 127. It’s a solid backup if the 4th is too crowded.
For the rest of the run, it’s mostly small, weak, and wind-affected. The second week is especially quiet, with swell dropping back to 1 ft to 2 ft and very weak energy. Nothing to get excited about.
Signing off, Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Fri afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Fri afternoon, min 23°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 33°C on Mon afternoon, min 22°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | ||||||||||||||
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 11 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSE 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | E 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
29 | 22 | 24 | 17 | 24 | 26 | 118 | 23 | 23 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 20 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:52AM0.87m | 8:08PM1.00m | 8:32AM0.93m | 8:46PM1.02m | 9:10AM0.98m | 9:23PM1.02m | 9:47AM1.02m | 10:01PM1.01m | 10:26AM1.05m | 10:40PM0.98m | 11:06AM1.07m | 11:22PM0.94m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:33AM0.17m | 1:30PM0.16m | 2:09AM0.13m | 2:14PM0.14m | 2:43AM0.10m | 2:56PM0.12m | 3:17AM0.08m | 3:38PM0.11m | 3:51AM0.06m | 4:21PM0.11m | 4:27AM0.06m | 5:06PM0.12m | |||||||
— | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | |
7:42 | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:34 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | 5 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 23 | 29 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 29 | 33 | 32 |
Feels °C | 24 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 24 | 30 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 31 | 35 | 33 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 11 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | SE 8 | SE 5 | ESE 8 | SSE 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 |
29 | 22 | 24 | 11 | 24 | 26 | 118 | 13 | 23 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 3 | E 6 | E 15 | ESE 9 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | ESE 8 | SE 5 | ESE 8 | SE 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 18 | E 16 |
1 | 1 | 4 | 17 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 23 | 6 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 20 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | — | E 6 | E 14 | E 8 | E 8 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | — | — | — | — | E 9 | E 8 |
1 | — | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SE 3 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | SE 4 | SW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 4 | S 3 | SSW 3 | S 3 | S 4 |
— | — | 4 | 17 | 16 | 10 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 10 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 562 | 530 | 1148 | 407 | 91 | 1140 | 2 | 91 | 174 | 4 | 190 | 431 | 152 | 190 | 152 | 152 | 900 | 530 | 186 |
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.











