81st Street Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.91° N 75.99° W

81st Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 am 09 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's 81st Street sea temperature is
26.8°C
2.7° 

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 9 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 5s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 5s period, SE swell with 47 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 5s 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 Sunday (Sep 13) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 8s 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 1.1m 5s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 11PM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Sun 13th Sep)2.5ft (0.8m) 5s
Best Surf 5AM (Sun 13th Sep)2.5ft (0.8m) 5s
Most Powerful11PM (Sat 12th Sep)3.5ft (1.1m) 5s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's take a good hard look at the only break on the table for the next 16 days: 81st Street.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this is a tough stretch. The whole 16-day window is full of "poor surf conditions" flags. We've got a real gap here with nothing worth getting wet for, and honestly, it doesn't start to look even remotely interesting until we're nearly two weeks out. The first real glimmer of something surfable doesn't pop up until the morning of Sunday, September 20th.

The water is sitting at a very unusual 80°F for this time of year, which is a massive 5°F warmer than normal. If you're used to a chilly morning, this ain't it.

Now, for what little we've got. 81st Street is an exposed spot that likes an ESE swell, but it’s inconsistent and best for beginners on the small days. The whole period is plagued by tiny, weak swell. We're looking at wave heights barely cracking 3 ft at their absolute peak, mostly hanging around 0.7 ft to 3 ft, and with periods so short they barely qualify as waves – think 4 to 9 seconds, which is just wind slop. The combined energy is weak, barely cracking triple digits only once (102 on the morning of September 22nd).

Let's break down the calendar. Nothing on Wednesday the 9th, Thursday the 10th, or Friday the 11th. That weekend? Forget it. The 14th through the 19th is a total write-off.

The only days that even register a "surfable waves but very ordinary" score are the mornings of Sunday the 20th, Monday the 21st, Tuesday the 22nd, and Thursday the 24th.

The one standout – if you can call it that – is the morning of Tuesday, September 22nd. We see a combined energy hitting 102 (moderate), with 3 ft swell rolling in from the ESE at an 8-second period. The real kicker is the wind: it's glassy, dead calm. For a spot that's usually dealing with cross-shore chop, that window of clean, glassy conditions is a rare gem. It’ll be tiny, but it'll be the cleanest 3 ft you'll find all window. Crowds are only "sometimes" an issue here, and on a Tuesday morning with this tiny swell, you might have it all to yourself.

The mornings of the 20th (3 ft, NE, offshore wind from the W), 21st (2 ft, ESE, cross-off wind from the SSW), and 24th (2 ft, E, glassy) are all similar stories – very small, but clean. They are second-tier options at best.

Bottom line: don’t get your hopes up for the next two weeks. This is a long, flat run for 81st Street. Only the glassy dawn patrol sessions around the 22nd and 24th are worth a look if you’re desperate, but keep your expectations in the car.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 33°C on Thu afternoon, min 22°C on Wed morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Wed morning, fresh winds from the SW by Thu night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 29°C on Sun afternoon, min 24°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
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
6
0.7
SE
4
0.2
ESE
9
0.2
ESE
9
0.2
ESE
9
0.9
SSE
5
0.6
NNE
3
0.3
SE
7
0.3
SE
7
0.7
ESE
4
0.9
SE
4
0.9
SE
5
0.6
SE
5
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.3
ESE
9
0.3
ESE
9
0.3
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.9
SE
4
0.2
ESE
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
12
12
8
8
8
42
7
8
8
16
24
37
19
23
21
16
16
14
24
21
8
Wind (km/h)
10
SSW
30
SSE
30
SSW
25
WSW
10
SSE
30
WSW
15
N
20
ENE
15
E
25
SE
25
SE
20
S
10
S
20
SE
10
SW
15
NE
15
ENE
10
ESE
5
E
15
SE
10
SSW
Wind State
cross-off
cross
cross-off
off
cross
off
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
off
cross-on
on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
8:00PM1.07m
8:25AM1.04m
8:46PM1.06m
9:11AM1.09m
9:30PM1.04m
9:54AM1.11m
10:11PM1.00m
10:35AM1.10m
10:52PM0.95m
11:16AM1.08m
11:31PM0.89m
11:57AM1.04m
00:12AM0.84m
Low Tide
1:21PM0.03m
1:55AM0.01m
2:13PM0.01m
2:37AM-0.01m
3:02PM0.01m
3:17AM-0.00m
3:49PM0.03m
3:55AM0.02m
4:34PM0.07m
4:33AM0.06m
5:18PM0.12m
5:10AM0.11m
6:03PM0.19m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
rain showers
thunderstorm
clear
thunderstorm
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:39
6:41
6:41
6:43
6:43
6:43
6:45
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:21
7:19
7:17
7:15
7:15
7:13
7:12
 mm
1
6
1
4
2
5
Temp °C
24
27
25
27
33
31
26
25
24
25
27
27
27
29
29
26
26
25
27
28
28
Feels °C
24
23
22
26
33
28
28
26
25
25
27
28
30
32
30
29
28
27
32
31
30
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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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