57th Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get real about what’s on offer. I’ve had a long look at the charts for 57th Street, and I’ll be straight with you—it’s a tough stretch ahead. The water’s sitting at a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, at about 76°, so that’s a small comfort, but you’re going to need a whole lot of patience for the next couple of weeks.

Right now, through the end of August and into the first days of September, the energy is just not there. We’re looking at tiny swell, mostly from the southeast, with heights barely cracking 2 ft. The combined swell energy is weak, sitting in the low double digits (49) at best early on, and often dropping to 13 or 15. That’s flat, my friend. The wind is all over the place—cross-off, glass, cross-on—but it doesn’t matter when there’s nothing to ride. There’s a long gap of days with no real surf to speak of. Late August sees a little bump up to 3 ft on Saturday morning, but the period is a short 5 seconds and the energy is still weak (46), with choppy cross-onshore winds. Not worth paddling out.

Things start to look a little more interesting as we head into the last few days of the forecast period. Saturday, 29 August, the morning shows a glimmer: 2 ft from the southeast at 9 seconds, with a light offshore wind from the WNW. The energy is starting to climb (73), and the surf is described as “surfable but very ordinary.” I’ll take it over nothing. Then Sunday, 30 August, the morning glass-off with 2 ft and 9-second period is pretty clean. But the real stand-out? It’s not huge, but later on Tuesday, 1 September, we get a glimpse of something better. The afternoon shows 1 ft from the southeast with a 12-second period, combined energy at 88, and cross-off wind. The longer period means more shape, and it’s clean. Then Wednesday, 2 September, the morning has 2 ft, 11 seconds, and cross-off NNW wind, with energy hitting 129—that’s moderate energy, the best we’ll see. For a beginner-friendly spot like 57th Street, that light offshore wind and longer period could make for a few fun little waves, even if they’re not big.

Honestly, the only time I’d really point you to the water is the morning of Wednesday, 2 September. It’s the most promising window in the whole outlook. The swell is small but the wind is clean, the period is decent, and the energy is the highest we get. 57th Street is a sandbar, fairly consistent, and with the light offshore wind, it’ll have some shape. Keep in mind, crowds are sometimes an issue here, so you might have some company, but with the waves being small, it won’t be a zoo.

Don’t hold your breath for the rest of the stretch. This is a lean period, but the forecast can always change. For now, I’d be looking at the first week of September for the best chance of a paddle.

Rusty

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