81st Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s talk 81st Street. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty sleepy, so don’t expect any fireworks. There’s a big stretch of nothing much happening, especially through the first week and a half. The only real glimmer of hope shows up late in the game, and even that’s a bit of a gamble.

Your best bet is Wednesday, August 26th. The morning is a little thing: 1ft swell from the ESE, with a long 16-second period, and combined energy of 95 (weak). The wind is cross-off from the SW, keeping it clean, but it’s just too small. The afternoon gets a bit more interesting: 4ft from the SE, period of 15 seconds, and energy jumps to 708 (strong). The wind is still cross-off from the S, so the surf is clean. That’s the standout of the whole forecast – some size and good shape from a groundswell, but it’s going to be too much for the beginners. If you’re experienced, it could be a decent session. Water temp is about average for this time of year.

After that, it drops off again. The next little pulse is on Sunday, August 30th, with glassy conditions in the morning and 4ft from the east, but the period is a short 5 seconds and the energy is moderate (128). It’s surfable, but pretty ordinary. The wind is glassy from the WSW, so it’ll be clean, but the waves won’t have much power.

The rest of the 16 days is just a lot of small, weak, and messy surf. There are a few other mornings with glassy or clean conditions, like August 20th (1ft, 8 seconds), and September 2nd (2ft, 7 seconds), but the swell is too small to get excited about. Crowds at 81st Street are sometimes a problem, but with so little surf, you’ll likely have the place to yourself.

So, to wrap it up: if you’re looking for something, point your board at the afternoon of August 26th. That’s the pick of the litter. The rest is just waiting for better days.

Rusty

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