81st Street Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.91° N 75.99° W

81st Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 30 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's 81st Street sea temperature is
24.8° C
0.9° 

81st Street surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


81st Street surf forecast from 30 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 3 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 7s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 7s period, SSE swell with 102 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 3 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 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 Monday (Aug 03) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at 81st Street in the next 16 days are 1.0m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 01) at 8PM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Mon 3rd Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 7s
Best Surf11PM (Mon 3rd Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 7s
Most Powerful 5PM (Mon 3rd Aug)3.5ft (1.0m) 7s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for 81st Street over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s get into it. Rusty here, and I’ll tell you straight up: this is a tough stretch. We’re looking at a solid 16-day window, but honestly, there’s barely a whisper of swell for most of it. The first real suggestion of anything surfable doesn’t show up until Saturday the 8th of August, and even then, it’s barely a ripple.

Overall Pattern
For the first nine days, from Thursday the 30th of July right through to Friday the 7th of August, it’s a flat spell. We’re talking tiny, weak swell with heights under 3 ft, mostly around 1 ft to 2 ft, and periods bouncing between 4 and 9 seconds. The combined energy readings are all in the double digits—20s, 30s, 40s, even a few in the teens—which is textbook weak energy. The wave comments are all “poor surf conditions” or “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” There’s just nothing to get excited about. The wind is mostly cross-off or cross, but with no swell, it doesn’t matter.

The Only Real Highlight
The only time the charts show a pulse is on Wednesday the 12th of August. That morning and afternoon, 81st Street sees a bit of life. The swell picks up to 3 ft from the SE, with a period of 6 seconds—short period, so it’s a bit crumbly and not super powerful. The combined energy climbs to 60 and 62, which is still weak, but it’s the highest we see. The wind is light and cross-off, so it’ll be clean. The wave comment even says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” This is the best we’ve got, and it’s a long way off.

The Gap
From now until the 8th of August, it’s a nine-day dry spell with no real surf. Then there’s a bit of a tease on the 8th with a 1 ft wave, but it’s nothing special. The real, barely-there pulse is on the 12th.

Breakdown
- 81st Street: This is the only spot in the mix. It’s an exposed beach break, inconsistent, and best for beginners when it’s small. The swell direction is ESE, which is a bit off the optimum, and the period is short, so don’t expect any power. The water temperature is a warm 77°, which is about 2° cooler than normal for this time of year—nothing unusual, just a touch on the fresh side for a summer swim.

The Verdict
Honestly, if you’re a surfer, this is a 16-day stretch to take the board off the car, fix that ding, and wait. The only day that might be worth a paddle is Wednesday the 12th of August, and even then, it’s a beginner-friendly, knee-high dribble. If you’re a kite surfer, the onshore and cross-shore winds on the afternoons could be more interesting than the surf. But for a proper wave? Not this time.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Thu afternoon, min 23°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (calm on Thu afternoon, fresh winds from the SSE by Sat afternoon).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 27mm), heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 29°C on Sun afternoon, min 23°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
Sunday
2
Monday
3
Tuesday
4
Wednesday
5
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SE
7
0.4
SE
7
0.4
SE
7
0.4
SE
7
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
8
0.3
SE
7
0.7
SE
4
0.2
ESE
8
0.5
SE
6
0.7
SE
7
0.9
SE
7
1
SE
7
1
SSE
7
0.5
SE
7
0.5
SE
7
0.5
SE
7
0.4
SE
7
0.5
SE
7
0.5
ESE
7
0.4
SE
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
19
19
14
14
28
15
8
12
6
18
52
79
96
102
23
23
22
15
22
25
11
Wind (km/h)
15
NW
0
NNE
10
SW
10
NNW
20
SE
15
SSW
10
SSW
30
SSE
20
S
15
SE
20
SE
25
SSW
25
SW
20
S
15
SSW
20
SSW
15
WNW
15
S
15
SSW
20
SSW
20
SW
Wind State
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
9:40AM0.85m
9:52PM0.97m
10:18AM0.88m
10:28PM0.96m
10:54AM0.91m
11:05PM0.94m
11:33AM0.94m
11:45PM0.90m
12:15PM0.96m
00:29AM0.86m
1:01PM0.97m
1:19AM0.81m
1:55PM0.98m
2:16AM0.77m
Low Tide
3:18PM0.11m
3:54AM0.06m
3:58PM0.11m
4:27AM0.06m
4:40PM0.11m
5:00AM0.06m
5:24PM0.12m
5:36AM0.06m
6:12PM0.14m
6:17AM0.07m
7:07PM0.16m
7:03AM0.08m
8:08PM0.17m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
rain showers
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:07
6:07
6:07
6:09
6:09
6:11
6:11
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:12
8:12
8:10
8:09
8:08
8:07
8:07
 mm
1
5
2
1
4
1
5
8
1
3
Temp °C
24
28
27
25
27
26
27
28
26
26
29
28
27
27
28
28
28
25
26
26
27
Feels °C
22
28
26
26
27
26
28
26
24
27
29
28
27
28
30
29
27
28
29
28
29
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

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