81st Street Surf Break

81st Street Sea Temperature and Wetsuit Guide

Lat Long: 36.91° N 75.99° W

Issued: 1 pm 19 Jun 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's 81st Street sea temperature is
23.2° C

Normal for this time of year

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

Today's 81st Street sea temperature is 23.2 °C

(Normal for this time of year)

Mean: 23.0 °C
Range: 21.5 °C to 24.4 °C
Statistics for 19 Jun (1981–2005)

    Today, many surfers would wear a shorty .

    Warm in and out of the water temperature at 81st Street today, but forecast to be overcast. With sea temperatures of 23 °C and a wind chill of 24 °C, most surfers will choose a shorty or a summer suit or just board shorts.

    United States Sea Water Temperature

    Map of current United States
    Surface Water Temperatures

    (based on measurements from oceanographic satellites)
    United States Water Temperature Anomaly

    Map of current United States
    Sea Water Temperature Anomalies

    (compared with long term averages
    at this time of year)

    click thumbnails to expand

    Below is a graph of Historical Sea Surface Temperature for 81st Street. This has been derived from analysis of two decades of oceanographic satellite measurements of nearby open water. We have calculated the average water temperature variation around the year as well as the extremes that have been observed on each date.

    81st Street Water Temperature Graph

    All of the graphs for the surf breaks presented on Surf-Forecast.com are on the same scale to enable comparison between locations around the world.

    81st Street water temperatures peak in the range 24 to 28°C (75 to 82°F) on around the 22nd of July and are at their lowest on about the 1st of March, in the range 7 to 13°C (45 to 55°F). Year round warm water temperatures at 81st Street climb to their highest in the second half of July. Even then a rash vest and board shorts should be fine for surfing at any time of year. At its lowest at the beginning of March, low water temperatures at 81st Street are suited to a 5/4mm or 5/3mm good quality wetsuit with neoprene gloves and 3mm boots. You will need a hood if it's windy or the air is cold.

    Actual sea surface water temperatures close to shore at 81st Street can vary by several degrees compared with these open water averages. This is especially true after heavy rain, close to river mouths or after long periods of strong offshore winds. Offshore winds cause colder deep water to replace surface water that has been warmed by the sun. Air temperature, wind-chill and sunshine should also be considered before deciding on the kind of wetsuit needed to stay warm when surfing at 81st Street. Refer to our detailed weather forecasts for this information.

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