57th Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty quiet, with a long stretch of hardly anything rideable. But don’t switch off just yet, because there’s a proper pulse of energy lined up for the end of the first week of September that should get the blood pumping.

The early part of this run is a write-off, to be honest. From Monday the 24th of August right through to the end of the month, we’re looking at tiny, weak surf. Most days are showing ankle-biters around 1ft to 2ft, with the occasional knee-high blip. The wind is mostly cross or onshore, and the energy is weak, with combined energy readings stuck between 21 and 98. It’s frustrating, but it’s not unusual for this stretch. The water is sitting at 77° and is a touch warmer than the long-term average, but that’s the only thing with any warmth in it. The first real chance of anything comes on the morning of Monday the 31st of August, but it’s still only 2ft and ordinary. It’s a waiting game.

The first few days of September will keep teasing us. The swell starts to pick up a little on the 2nd, with the combined energy climbing into the mid-300s, but the waves are still small and the winds are cross-offshore, so it’s not going to be pretty. Then things start to fire up for Thursday the 3rd of September. That morning, the swell jumps to 4ft out of the southeast with a 16-second period, and the wind is offshore and light. The energy reading jumps to 697 – that’s a solid, moderate pulse. But it’s the afternoon that’s the standout. The swell pushes up to 5ft from the southeast, still with that long 15-second period, and the energy reading goes ballistic to 2358. That’s strong, powerful energy. It’s still offshore, and while the wind is a bit stronger, it should be clean. This is the window to be at 57th Street. This is a sandbar break, fairly consistent and fairly exposed to the swell. That kind of long-period swell can sometimes line up too straight for a beach break, but with this much juice, there will be some proper walls. With 5ft and that period, this is for experienced surfers – it’ll be too heavy for the beginners, that’s for sure.

The surf eases back after that. Friday the 4th of September is still fun, especially the morning with 4ft of southeast swell, but the winds are cross-offshore and it drops off through the day. The rest of that weekend and into the following week is a slow fade back to smaller, weaker conditions. The surf gets down to 3ft on the 5th, then 2ft on the 6th, and by the 7th and 8th of September, it’s back to knee-high slop with weak energy. That Thursday the 3rd of September is the one to circle. It’s the clear standout of this whole period. It’s a bit of a tease having to wait that long, but when it shows, it should be worth it. Keep your fingers crossed the forecast holds.

Rusty

Read more