56th St Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Hey folks, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you – the next 16 days are looking pretty grim for a paddle. We've got a solid run of marginal to poor conditions, so it's a waiting game. The finder only flagged one spot that's worth a proper look, and even that's not until the first week of September.

The main issue is a persistent cross-onshore wind that's messing up almost every session. We'll see a few pulses of longer-period swell, but the wind just won't cooperate. The first real glimmer of hope isn't until Sunday the 6th of September, and even then, it's a mixed bag.

Let's get into it. The only break in the game is 56th St. The water there is running at a steamy 76°, which is about 9° warmer than normal for this time of year – that's seriously unusual, like swimming in a bath.

After a long stretch of nothing, we finally get a chance on Sunday morning the 6th of September. The swell is hitting 5 ft from the S with a period of 13 seconds (moderate groundswell), and the combined energy is strong at 893. The wind is glassy from the WNW at only 3 mph. That's the standout – it'll be clean and smooth. It's a bit small for the more experienced crew, but for intermediates, this is your window. The afternoon gets a touch messy with a cross-onshore breeze, but the swell picks up to 5 ft. Crowds are possible at this spot, so get in early.

The next day, Monday the 7th of September, is another call. The morning has a 6 ft S swell at 13 seconds, with a cross-offshore NW breeze at 9 mph. That's clean, workable surf. The combined energy is pumping at 1029. This is the best of the lot for size and conditions combined. The afternoon holds up but starts to taper.

After that, the wind swings back onshore and the whole thing falls apart. From Tuesday the 8th through to the end of the 16-day run, it's all cross-onshore slop with tiny waves. There's a lot of days with nothing worth paddling out for, especially from the 8th to the 15th of September, where the swell drops below 3 ft and the wind is consistently in the wrong direction.

So, to sum it up: mark your calendar for Sunday the 6th of September morning for small, glassy fun, and Monday the 7th of September morning for the best size and clean conditions. Beyond that, it's a long, flat, choppy wait. It tends not to stay this poor for long, so keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

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