56th St Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: 56th Street is the only spot on the table for the next sixteen days, and it’s a tough sit. We’re looking at a long, drawn-out run of mediocre to poor conditions. The pattern is locked into small, south-southwest swell with cross-onshore winds that just won’t let up. The wave energy through the period stays mostly in the moderate range (360 to 486) early on, but it’s all poorly shaped and choppy.

Friday morning the 3rd sees a 3ft, 16-second groundswell from the SSW, but with a cross-onshore breeze, it’s already messy. The water’s at 67°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s about the only highlight.

The whole first week stays small – 2ft to 3ft – with that persistent cross-onshore wind. Nothing cleans up. There’s a tiny glimmer Monday morning the 6th when the wind goes directly onshore from the SW (light), but the surf is still poor quality and only 3ft. Tuesday the 7th morning bumps up to 3ft with light onshore wind and some decent energy (710), but it’s still called marginal – not a session you’d drive for. Wednesday the 8th morning is similar, with 3ft and light onshore, but again, only marginal.

After that, it fades. From around the 9th through the 11th, the swell drops back (3ft to 3ft) with the same cross-onshore chop. The second week is a slow bleed. Swell heights fall to 1ft to 2ft, with the wind staying mostly cross-onshore. The energy drops (120 to 317), and the period goes long, but there’s no power behind it. Friday the 17th and Saturday the 18th offer a tiny lift to 2ft with moderate energy (317), but the wind is still on it.

Honestly, there’s no standout session here. The best on offer – and I say that loosely – is probably Tuesday morning, July 7th, and Wednesday morning, July 8th. Both have 3ft of SSW swell with long 16- to 18-second periods, and the wind is light and directly onshore. The energy is solid (710 and 544), and with the wind almost glassy, it could be worth a paddle if you’re desperate. But this is a sheltered spot, and with that long period, expect the sandbars to make it fat and sectiony. No big scores.

For the rest of the run? You might as well grab a kite if you have one – the wind’s stronger in the afternoons and the surf is too small and chopped up for decent paddling. Keep an eye on the forecasts; it’s been a grim run, but things can change.

Rusty.

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