56th St Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s on offer for 56th St over the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, it’s a bit of a tough stretch for us paddle surfers. The pattern is pretty flat for the most part, and when there is a little pulse in the water, the conditions just aren’t playing ball. The water temp is sitting at 67°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t be freezing while you’re sitting out there waiting for something to ride.

Right from the get-go this Friday afternoon, we’ve got a long-period groundswell (16 seconds) from the SSW pushing about 3ft, and the combined swell energy is moderate at 363. Problem is, the wind is a cross-onshore mess at 12 mph, turning it into poor, choppy surf. Not worth a paddle.

That pattern holds through Saturday and Sunday – a bit of swell hanging around from the SSW, periods between 14 and 18 seconds, but cross-onshore winds keep things choppy and weak.

Now, there are a couple of *marginal* windows that pop up. Come Monday morning the 6th of July, we see a light onshore wind and the swell energy bumps up to 486. Still, it's only 3ft from the SSW with a 16-second period. The report calls it marginal, and I’d agree – it’s not the sort of day to get excited about, but if you’re desperate, you might find a clean-ish one on the sets. Tuesday morning the 7th of July is the most interesting on paper – a 3ft SSW swell with a super-long 18-second period, energy at 712. But that’s a groundswell at a beach break, and those long-period swells tend to close out or run straight. With the light offshore wind from the SW, the surface might look clean, but the shape is going to be tricky.

Beyond that, from Wednesday the 8th right through to the end of the outlook on the 18th of July, the swell drops off significantly, often hovering around 1ft to 2ft, with energy readings falling below 300 and even down to 121 later on. Winds are light and often onshore or cross-onshore, but the waves are just too small to recommend.

The best bet of the whole period, if you want to call it that, is Tuesday morning the 7th of July. The swell hits 3ft from the SSW with that long 18-second period, and the light offshore wind should keep it clean. Energy is moderate at 712. But honestly, it’s a spot that’s sheltered, and that long-period groundswell might not wrap in well here. It’s marginal at best. For beginners, the swell is under 5ft, so it’s not too big, but the long period can make the takeoff tricky. The crowds are listed as “sometimes,” so you won’t be alone if it actually shows.

For the rest of the window – it’s a long gap of nothing. From Wednesday the 8th onward, there’s really nothing worth paddling out for.

– Rusty

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