56th St Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you: the next sixteen days are not looking flash for a proper surf. The whole window is a bit of a dud, honestly. You’re looking at a long stretch with nothing much to get excited about, especially through the middle of the month. The first real sniff of anything even close to ridable doesn't pop up until the 21st of September, and even then, it’s marginal.

Let’s start with the early part. From Tuesday the 15th right through to Sunday the 20th, it’s a write-off. You’ve got tiny waves, mostly around 2 ft to 3 ft, and the wind is constantly cross-onshore or onshore, messing up any chance of a clean face. The swell energy is weak to moderate at best, with numbers like 172 (moderate-ish) up to 528, but the wave quality just isn’t there. It’s all labelled as poor surf conditions, and I’m not gonna argue with that. Don’t bother paddling out.

The first day that might get you thinking is Monday the 21st of September. The swell picks up slightly to about 3 ft from the SW, with a long period of 17 seconds, so there’s some decent groundswell energy behind it (combined energy sitting at 539). The wind goes light and onshore in the morning and turns light offshore from the SSW by afternoon. That’s the best wind direction for 56th St, which is sheltered from the SW. That little afternoon window could be worth a look if you’re desperate, but the forecast says marginal. It’s not going to be a classic.

From the 22nd through to the 26th, we’re back in the doldrums. Swell stays small, around 2 ft to 3 ft, period drops off, and the wind is mostly cross-onshore. There’s one glimmer on Sunday the 27th of September. The morning looks glassy – wind is dead calm (just a slight air) – with a small 2 ft SSW swell coming in at a 12-second period. The combined energy is 280, so it’s moderate ground energy, but the glassy conditions could make those tiny waves look pretty clean. If you’ve got a log or a fish, that might be your best chance for a fun, cruisy session. But the waves are small and inconsistent.

After that, the final few days of the month trail off again. The 28th, 29th, and 30th all show small swell, poor conditions, and cross-onshore breezes. It just fizzles out.

So, the standout here? Honestly, there isn’t a true standout. If I had to pick the best of a bad bunch, it’s the glassy morning on Sunday the 27th of September at 56th St. That’s your one chance for clean, uncrowded little waves. The water’s much warmer than normal for this time of year at 73°, so you’ll be comfortable in a spring suit.

Other than that, it’s a blank run. Don’t expect much, and you won’t be disappointed. Forecasts can change, so keep an eye on it, but for now, it’s pretty grim.

Rusty.

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