56th St Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer coming up for the 56th St stretch.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next few days are looking pretty grim. We’ve got a lack of quality surf all the way through. There’s a bit of energy in the water, but the conditions are just junk. The water temp is sitting at 70°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t be freezing your toes off.

Sunday the 19th into the middle of the week: we’ve got a clean, long-period SW groundswell running, with periods hitting 16-17 seconds, but the wind is mostly cross-onshore or onshore, and the surf is described as poor. The swell is tiny, around 3ft to 4ft, so there’s just nothing to get excited about. The combined energy is moderate (646), but it’s wasted. You’d be better off staying on the beach.

Thursday the 23rd shows a little flicker of hope in the morning. We’ve got a 4ft swell from the S with a 13-second period, and the wind is light and variable, almost glassy. The energy is building (606), and the call is marginal. It’s the best we’ve seen so far, but honestly, it’s still a tough one to recommend. The rest of that day and into Friday the 24th is back to poor conditions.

The weekend of the 26th and 27th sees a bit more size, with 4ft swells from the SSW and SW, and periods back up to 18-19 seconds. The morning winds look light and offshore, which is a big positive. The energy is strong (845-912), and the call is marginal. For a spot that’s sheltered and very consistent, this is a standout window. The swell direction (SW/SSW) is right in the sweet spot for 56th St. It’s not huge, but it’s clean, and the crowd factor is there – this spot gets busy sometimes, so expect company.

Looking further out, the first of August brings a pumping 5ft S swell with a 14-second period and light offshore winds in the morning. That’s a solid size, but it’s getting into the territory where it’s more for the experienced crew. The energy is very strong (947). This is another standout, but it’s a long way off, so don’t book the day off work just yet – forecasts can change.

After that, it drops off quickly into the first week of August, with tiny 1ft to 3ft swells and light winds, but the energy is weak. It’s back to flat spells.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a write-off. The real standout windows are the mornings of the 26th and 27th of July and the 1st of August. If you’re looking for the cleanest, most consistent waves, aim for those early sessions. The 1st of August has the most size, but it’s a gamble that far out. For now, keep your board waxed and your eyes on the sky.

Rusty.

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