81st Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's get straight into what we've got cookin' for 81st Street over the next couple of weeks.

First thing you need to know: the water is 80°, which is a solid 5° warmer than what we'd normally see this time of year. That's much warmer than usual, so you're gonna be shedding the wetsuit for sure.

Honestly, looking out over the next ten days or so, it's a rough stretch. We've got a massive gap from now until the 21st of September with nothing worth paddling out for. It's all weak, short-period slop with onshore or cross winds making a mess of things. You’ll see combined swell energy values barely getting into double digits most days, and even when a little pulse shows up, the wind is just not playing ball. It's a write-off for the most part.

But then, things get spicy. Mark your calendars for Monday the 21st of September because the surf finally shows a pulse. By the afternoon we get a glassy session with 6ft of east swell rolling in. The combined swell energy climbs to 289 (moderate) and the wind goes glassy. It's not huge, but it's clean and it's rideable. This is the first real chance to get wet properly.

Now, Tuesday the 22nd is a tale of two halves. The morning bumps up to 8ft east swell from the same direction, but the energy hits over 1000 (strong), and with a light cross breeze it's going to be lumpy and a bit of a wrestle. Probably not the best call for the average surfer as it's getting big.

The real standout, and I mean the one to circle, is Friday the 25th of September. We get a pulse of east swell hitting 12ft, with a long period of 11 seconds. The combined energy is off the charts at 2500 (very strong). That is a proper groundswell. But here's the kicker: both morning and afternoon we get light offshore wind from the WSW swinging south, making for clean conditions. This swell will be powerful, well-shaped with that long period, and the wind will make it perfect. However, at 12ft, this isn't for everyone. This is strictly for the experienced crew with the right boards and the guts to handle it. This break is inconsistent and exposed, so you need the swell to line up, but when it does, and it looks like it will, it’s going to fire.

After that, Saturday the 26th looks like the wind turns onshore again and mushes it up. So that one day is your window.

To wrap it up: tough waiting game for two weeks, but the payoff on the 25th is shaping up to be a proper, heavy day if you've got the skill to handle it.

Rusty.

Read more