57th Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you—this forecast window is a tough one. We’re looking at a long stretch of flat, weak, and pretty ordinary conditions for the most part. If you’re desperate for a paddle, there are a couple of small windows where it might be worth a look, but it’s not going to be pretty.

The whole first week is a write-off. Kicking off on Saturday the 8th, we’ve got ankle-biters at 2ft with a short, weak 5-second period. The energy is just pitiful (49), and a cross-shore breeze chops it all up. Don’t even bother. The entire run through until the 19th is in that same spirit. Swell heights bounce between a pathetic 0.7ft and 2ft, with periods mostly under 8 seconds. There’s a brief moment on Tuesday the 11th morning with glassy conditions, but there’s no swell to ride. The combined energy is mostly under 50—that's weak, weak, weak. We’re talking about a near two-week gap with nothing worth your time.

Now, things start to finally change around the middle of the month. The first real sign of life appears on Thursday the 20th. The swell period jumps to 12 seconds, which means we’ve finally got some groundswell in the water. Swell heights are still small, but the energy starts to build—188 by Thursday afternoon. That’s a step in the right direction. Friday the 21st sees the swell actually push up to 3ft to 4ft, but the wind turns onshore, and it's messy. The energy is moderate at 328, but it’s not clean. Could be a grovel, but not recommended.

The standout in this otherwise bleak outlook falls on Saturday the 22nd. The morning still has some cross-off wind, but the afternoon shapes up. With 3ft of ESE swell and a clean, light offshore breeze, 57th Street (Fire Island) will be the only spot with any sort of rideable pulse. The swell direction is from the ESE, which is just about right for this place. It’s not big, and it’s not powerful, but it’s the best we’ve got.

Sunday the 23rd is a similar story. The swell holds at 3ft, but the wind is a bit stronger and more side-shore, so it won’t be as clean. Still, the energy is moderate at 120, so there could be a few fun ones if you're keen.

Honestly, with the water temperature at 76°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, the main appeal might be a swim with your board. But if you’re chasing waves, the 22nd is your day. Keep your expectations low, because this is a long way from firing. After this little blip, it looks like it’s back to the flat spell.

Remember, this is a sandbar, and it's been inconsistent. It’s a beginner-friendly wave, so if you’re just learning, the small, clean surf on the 22nd could be perfect for you. But for anyone else, it’s a case of making the most of a poor run.

Stay patient.

- Rusty

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