56th St Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's be real about this stretch of coast. The news isn't great for the next two weeks or so. We're looking at a long, quiet spell with very little to get excited about.

The only break in the guidance is 56th St, a sheltered spot that's very consistent. But even that consistency isn't doing us any favours. The water temperature is sitting at 72°, which is a solid 5° warmer than usual for this time of year – that's a notable anomaly, you'll feel it when you get in.

Starting off Wednesday morning, August 12th, we've got tiny 2 ft SW swell with a long 17-second period. The combined energy is weak at 198. The wind is a light cross-onshore, so it's messy. This pattern of poor conditions, with small, weak swells and cross-onshore winds, just repeats day after day. From Wednesday through to Saturday, August 15th, we see swell heights barely creeping up to 3 ft, with periods dropping to 16 seconds and energy staying moderate at best, hitting 563 on the Saturday afternoon. Still, the wind is never favourable, keeping the surface choppy and grotty.

Sunday, August 16th, we get a slight glimmer, but it's a "marginal" call at best. The swell is 3 ft from the SSW, but the wind is still a problem. The whole of the following week, from Monday the 17th right through to Tuesday the 26th of August, is just a total write-off. Swell stays below 3 ft, mostly in the 1 ft to 2 ft range, with weak to moderate energy (mostly between 136 and 377). The wind is almost always a messy cross-onshore, and the water is just a bit warmer than usual.

There is a tiny flicker of hope right at the very end of the period. Thursday, August 27th, the morning shows a 3 ft S swell with a 14-second period and a solid energy reading of 628. The wind is light and onshore, but it's still only a "marginal" rating. The afternoon brings rain showers and a 3 ft S swell, but the wind picks up. It's not enough to call a standout.

Honestly, for the whole 16-day window, the conditions are pretty grim. The swell is small, the wind is nearly always onshore or cross, and the quality is poor. If you're absolutely desperate and the tide is right, maybe you could get a grovelly one on the 27th morning, but don't hold your breath. This is a stretch where the forecast can change, but right now, it's a long wait.

Rusty.

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