Surf Forecasts:
81st Street surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period, SSE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 22 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 8s period, SSE swell with 161 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s 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 (Jul 20) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 3s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at 81st Street in the next 16 days are 1.1m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 18) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Mon 20th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Mon 20th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for 81st Street over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the table for the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you: this is a tough stretch. We're looking at a long, lean period with hardly anything worth paddling out for. The first real hopeful sign doesn't show up until Wednesday, July 22nd, and even then, it's a mixed bag. For the first several days, from now through Tuesday, it's pretty much flat or junky, so don't bother waxing up.
The best of a bad bunch looks to be the morning of Wednesday, July 22nd. 81st Street is seeing a pulse of swell at 3 ft from the SSE, pushing the combined energy up to 111 (moderate). That's the biggest we've seen in a while, and with a clean, offshore wind from the SW, it could offer a few clean lines. The swell period is a short 7 seconds, so it'll be a bit weak and crumbly, but for a beginner spot, it's about as good as it gets in this window. It's an inconsistent break, so you'll be waiting for sets, but the conditions should be tidy. The water temperature is about average for the time of year.
That afternoon, the swell bumps up a touch to 4 ft (energy 158), but with a cross-offshore wind, it might still hold some shape. Still, the period is short.
After that, it's back to the struggle. Thursday the 23rd and Friday the 24th see a bit more size – up to 5 ft and 5 ft – but onshore winds from the NE and ENE ruin it, making it choppy and messy. The energy gets up to 223 on Friday afternoon, which is solid, but the quality is poor. For a beach break, that's more of a kiteboarding session than a surfing one.
The following week offers nothing. A few tiny, weak pulses with energy under 100 pop up, but the wind is all over the place. The morning of Monday, July 27th, is glassy, but the swell is a pathetic 2 ft. Tuesday afternoon, July 28th, is the first time we see a rating of 1 out of 10, with clean 2 ft waves, but it's still very ordinary. The morning of Wednesday, July 29th, has a clean 3 ft swell with offshore wind and energy of 125, but again, it's just surfable, not good.
Honestly, if you're desperate, aim for the Wednesday morning of July 22nd. Otherwise, keep your board in the car and wait for the next forecast. The forecasts can change, but right now, it's a flat spell.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 34°C on Sat afternoon, min 23°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Wed afternoon. Warm (max 33°C on Tue afternoon, min 23°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Tue night, light winds from the W by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 13 | E 13 | SSE 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | ESE 4 | ESE 7 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 43 | 23 | 37 | 23 | 23 | 30 | 16 | 48 | 16 | 80 | 48 | 49 | 34 | 44 | 44 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | on | glassy | on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 11:32AM0.94m | 11:51PM0.96m | 12:23PM0.94m | 00:39AM0.88m | 1:13PM0.93m | 1:28AM0.81m | 2:04PM0.91m | 2:19AM0.75m | 2:57PM0.89m | 3:12AM0.70m | 3:52PM0.87m | 4:08AM0.67m | 4:48PM0.87m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:19PM-0.05m | 5:47AM-0.07m | 6:14PM0.00m | 6:32AM-0.02m | 7:09PM0.06m | 7:17AM0.02m | 8:06PM0.12m | 8:03AM0.08m | 9:05PM0.16m | 8:52AM0.12m | 10:04PM0.19m | 9:44AM0.15m | 11:02PM0.20m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  |  |  |  | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — |
 | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:17 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 29 | 28 | 31 | 34 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 28 | 33 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
Feels °C | 31 | 29 | 31 | 33 | 35 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 30 | 27 | 27 | 31 | 25 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 4 | ESE 8 | ENE 3 | ESE 8 | E 13 | E 13 | SSE 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 | ESE 8 | — | SE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 6 |
| kJ | 2 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 43 | 23 | 37 | 23 | 23 | 30 | 6 | — | 16 | 80 | 48 | 49 | 34 | 44 | 44 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | S 4 | ESE 8 | — | E 9 | — | E 13 | S 4 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | — | E 9 | ENE 4 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 7 | — |
| kJ | 6 | 1 | 6 | — | 2 | — | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 18 | 17 | 18 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 15 | E 14 | E 10 | E 14 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 13 | — | E 10 | E 11 | E 9 | — | E 12 | E 6 | WSW 3 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 3 | SE 3 | S 3 | SSE 5 | S 6 | WSW 4 | — | E 3 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 7 | S 5 | NNW 2 | NNE 3 | NE 4 | NE 4 | ENE 4 | NE 3 |
| kJ | — | 3 | 2 | 5 | 91 | 103 | 5 | — | 2 | 11 | 18 | 27 | 16 | 48 | 42 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 24 | 10 | 3 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1656 | 1224 | 1232 | 1232 | 333 | 126 | 126 | 91 | 0 | 190 | 612 | 2 | 2000 | 1140 | 375 | 205 | 126 | 0 | 126 | 126 | 14 |
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.
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