56th St Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. The forecast for 56th St is a bit of a tough one for the next couple of weeks. The water is a staggering 72°, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year. But the swell and wind just aren't playing ball for most of the run.

We start off with a long wait. From Sunday afternoon, August 23rd, right through to the end of August, it’s a whole lot of nothing worth paddling out for. The swell is tiny, usually under 3 feet, and it’s coming from the SW or SSW. The wind is mostly a cross-onshore breeze, keeping the surface chopped up and messy. We’ve got a few days of weak energy readings in the 200s and 300s, and the commentary is just "poor surf conditions." It’s a real bummer.

The first bit of hope shows up on Wednesday, September 3rd, in the morning. We’ve got a 2ft swell from the SW, but get this – the period is a massive 20 seconds. That’s a serious groundswell, and the energy jumps to 592. The wind is a gentle cross-shore, which is better than onshore, but the swell is still pretty small and that long period might make it a bit tricky on a beach break. Still, it’s the first sign of life.

The real standout, the one you’ve been waiting for, is the morning of Saturday, September 5th. The breeze goes light and cross-offshore from the NNW, which is a game-changer. The forecast says "clean," and I’m feeling it. The swell is a consistent 4ft from the SSW with a 16-second period, and the energy is pumping at 827. This is the best window of the whole outlook. The conditions will be clean, the swell has some push, and it’s going to be a good session. Keep in mind that with a clean forecast and a solid south swell, 56th Street can get a bit of a crowd, so you might want to get there early.

Then, on Sunday, September 6th, the swell size bumps up. Morning sees 5ft from the S with a 14-second period and a massive energy reading of 1315. The wind is light, so it’s clean but a little criss-cross. The afternoon pushes to 5ft, which is starting to get into the bigger range. This is a proper swell, but because it’s hitting 5 feet and over, it’s probably a bit much for the beginners. The energy is strong and it’s a decent wave, but the wind is a bit more onshore in the afternoon, so the morning is the call.

After that, it drops off again. Monday, September 7th, is back to cross-onshore winds and the swell starts to fade. The energy drops fast, and we’re back to looking at poor conditions.

So, to wrap it up: the first week and a half is a write-off. Your one and only standout is Saturday morning, September 5th. That’s the cleanest, most fun surf of the forecast. The Sunday morning, September 6th, is a close second for the bigger, more powerful swell, but it’s a little more tricky. Don’t bother with the rest.

Rusty.

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