56th St Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you. Looking at the charts for 56th St over the next couple of weeks, it’s a bit of a flat spell for the most part. The swell energy is there in the water, but it’s not translating into anything rideable for us. We’re looking at a long stretch of small, messy conditions.

The first week is pretty much a write-off. From Friday the 7th right through to Thursday the 13th, we're looking at clean but tiny surf. Swell heights are hovering around 2ft to 3ft, with periods mostly in the 13 to 19 second range. That long period is nice to see, but with that size, there’s just not enough push. The wind is mostly light and cross-onshore, so it’s not even going to be that clean. The energy is weak, with values mostly in the 200s and 300s, so it's not doing anything for us. It’s a waiting game.

Now, heading into the second week, things start to look a little more interesting, but it's still not going to be a classic. The swell starts to pick up a touch from Friday the 14th, and through the weekend of the 15th and 16th, we see the energy climb into the 400s and 500s. Swell heights are still small, around 2ft to 3ft, but there's a bit more juice in the water. The period is still decent, though. The problem is the wind. It’s mostly cross-onshore, and on the 15th and 16th afternoons it gets a bit stronger, making things choppy. The energy is moderate, but the surf quality is still rated as poor. It’s not going to be worth paddling out for unless you’re desperate.

The standout, if you can call it that, is Saturday morning, August 15th. It’s the biggest swell of the window at 3ft (with the afternoon pushing 3ft), with a 16-second period and the energy jumping to 517. It’s still small, but it’s the best of a bad bunch. The wind is a light cross-on, so it might be a little lumpy, but it’s the only time we might see a few rideable waves. This is a far cry from epic, but it’s the pick of the fortnight.

The rest of the run into the 22nd just kind of meanders along. The swell stays small, the wind stays onshore or cross-onshore, and the energy, while moderate, just doesn't translate into surf. We're looking at a lot of knee-high slop. The water temp is 73°F, which is 6°F warmer than usual, so that’s pretty unusual for this time of year. It’s warm, but that doesn’t help the waves.

So, bottom line: don't get your hopes up. There’s nothing here for the next couple of weeks. If you’re a beginner, the small stuff might be okay, but for anyone else, it’s a bust. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing with that onshore wind and small waves. Keep the board in the car, maybe go for a skate, and check back later. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s flat.

Rusty, out.

Read more