56th St Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

We’ve got a long stretch ahead, and honestly, the first few days are a bit of a write-off. The surf is tiny and the conditions are just not cooperating. You’re looking at flat, weak energy through the weekend and into early next week. The good news is that things start to look up around the middle of the next week, but don’t expect anything firing before that.

The only real standout is 56th St. It’s a sheltered spot, so it’s not going to see the full brunt of the bigger swells, but it’s got a very consistent track record and the swell direction is a solid SW, which is exactly what this place wants. The water is sitting at 69°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you won’t need a full winter suit.

Let’s break it down. The first real sign of life is on Monday morning, July 20th. We’ll see a 5ft SSW swell trickling in, with a period of 15 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell, so it’ll have some punch, but it’s also a bit prone to closing out on a beach break. The wind is light and cross-onshore, so it’ll be a bit bumpy but not unmanageable. The energy is moderate at 809. It’s marginal, but for a Monday morning, it’s a chance to get wet.

The best window of the whole forecast looks like Thursday, July 23rd, through Saturday, July 25th. On Thursday morning, we’ve got a 5ft S swell with 14-second periods and light cross-onshore winds. The energy is strong at 1091. That’s a solid, surfable size. The wind is light, but it’s not perfectly offshore, so it’ll be a little bumpy. Friday morning sees similar 5ft S swell, but with a clean offshore wind from the S. That’s a very good sign. The energy jumps to 1292, which is strong. Saturday morning, July 25th, is another standout: a 5ft SSW swell with a light offshore wind. The energy is at 1313. This is the best combination of size, wind, and energy in the whole 16 days. The period is 13 seconds, which is a nice, solid groundswell. It’s not too big for intermediates, but it’s not a beginner wave either.

After that, things taper off. Sunday, July 26th, still has some 4ft SSW swell with offshore wind, but it’s dropping. The energy is still strong at 1041. By Monday, July 27th, the wind starts to turn a bit ugly, and the surf fades.

So, if you’re looking for the best surf, you’re circling Thursday, July 23rd, through Saturday, July 25th. The 56th St won’t be empty – it’s a spot that can get a crowd, so expect some company. But for a consistent, clean, and punchy SW swell, that’s your window.

- Rusty

Read more