56th St Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright mates, Rusty here, sizin’ up 56th Street.

Truth is, the next 16 days are lookin’ real flat. There’s a big ol’ gap of more than a week where there’s just nothin’ worth paddlin’ out for. Don’t get your hopes up.

Right now, Tuesday the 28th of July, the water is 72°F – that’s way warmer than usual for this time of year, a real weird one. The swell is a puny 3ft from the SSW with a long 17-second period, but the combined energy is weak (787) and the wind is blowin’ onshore. It’s a mess.

Wednesday the 29th is more of the same. Swell drops to 3ft, still long-period, but with a cross-on wind it’s just choppy and ugly. Thursday the 30th we get a little bump to 4ft from the S, but the period drops to 14 seconds and the wind is still cross-on. It’s a marginal call, but not worth the effort.

Friday the 31st has 4ft swell from the S, period droppin’ to 12 seconds, and the combined energy is moderate (474). But the wind is cross-on, so it’s all chop. If you’re desperate, you might find a closeout or two, but this is really lookin’ more like a kite-surfing spot than a paddle spot.

Then it goes dead. From Saturday the 1st of August all the way through the 9th, wave heights are just 1ft to 2ft, with weak energy readings. The wind is light, but there’s no swell. Nothin’.

The only flicker of life is on Sunday the 9th of August. We get a 3ft swell from the SSW with a 16-second period, and the energy picks up to 363. But the wind is cross-on from the WSW, so it’s not clean. It’s a tease. Then Monday the 10th, it’s back to 2ft.

The next week, from the 11th to the 12th, we see a little uptick to 2ft to 2ft from the SW, with long periods (17-18 seconds). The energy climbs to 333 and 359. The wind is on or light offshore, so the conditions might be a bit cleaner. But with such tiny swell, it’s a desperate paddle for a knee-high wave. The long period means it’ll be fat and weak, but if you’re a beginner, the 2ft size is manageable. Still, it’s not a standout; it’s just the best of a bad lot.

Honestly, 56th Street is a sheltered break, and it’s just not showin’ out. The best on offer is probably the 12th of August, with 2ft of SW swell, 16-second period, and light offshore wind. The water is still warm, but the surf is tiny. For a local, it’s a flat spell. For a visitor, it’s a washout. Keep your expectations low and your board waxed for another day.

Rusty.

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