56th St Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

Overall, it’s a bit of a flat spell. We’ve got some background swell, but it’s mostly small and the conditions just aren’t cooperating. The first week is pretty much a write-off for quality waves, with a lot of poor surf and choppy, messy wind. There’s a glimmer of hope towards the very end, but we’ve got a long stretch of quiet before that.

We start off on Saturday the 18th of July at 56th St. The water is a touch warmer than normal at 69°, about average for the time of year. The swell is tiny, only 2ft from the SW, but the period is a very long 18 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell, which usually means better shape, but the energy is weak (295). The wind is light and onshore in the morning, turning cross-onshore and choppy by the afternoon. This spot is sheltered, but with that wind and no size, it’s a no-go.

Sunday the 19th sees a little bump in height to 3ft from the S, with a moderate energy level (522) and a 13-second period. Still, the wind is onshore and the surf is rated poor. The same story continues through Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday – small, weak swells, and cross-onshore winds making it choppy. The energy values hover in the 300-600 range, which is weak to moderate, but the quality just isn’t there.

Come Thursday the 23rd and Friday the 24th, the swell direction stays out of the SSW, with heights around 2-3ft. The Friday morning pulse has a period of 24 seconds, which is very long, but the energy is still only moderate (727). The wind is finally light and onshore, but the surf is too small and weak to get excited about.

Then we hit a gap. From Saturday the 25th through to Wednesday the 30th, conditions are described as “marginal” at best, with a few mornings scoring a 1 out of 10. The swell is still small, mostly 3-4ft, and the wind is light and onshore, or cross-onshore. It’s frustrating – the wind is often light, but the swell just doesn’t have the juice to make anything of it. The energy figures climb into the 800-900 range, which is moderate, but the surf is still poor or marginal.

Now, the only standout in the whole outlook is a late-blooming pulse arriving on Friday the 31st of July. The morning shows a jump in swell to 6ft from the S, with a period of 15 seconds and a strong wave energy of 1509. This is a significant groundswell. The wind is light and cross-onshore, which will create some texture, but for a sheltered spot like 56th St, the size might be a bit much for beginners. It’s really the only day with any real power. The afternoon stays solid at 6ft, but the wind picks up to a gentle cross-onshore, making it choppier.

The first couple of days of August see the swell drop back down. Saturday the 1st has 6ft from the S, but the wind is moderate cross-onshore, so it’s going to be choppy. Sunday the 2nd is back to small, weak swell.

So, if you’re itching for a wave, the best bet is the morning of Friday the 31st of July. That’s the one day with real size and energy, but don’t expect perfection. The rest of the time, it’s a long wait for anything worthwhile.

Rusty.

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