56th St Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s comin’ for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this stretch looks pretty grim for the most part. We’ve got a long, dry spell of surf that’s just not worth paddling out for. The energy is weak, the winds are mostly messy, and the swell is just kinda... there. Honestly, the first real glimmer of hope doesn’t show up until Friday the 4th of September, and even then it’s a one-morning stand.

The first few days are a write-off. Tuesday the 25th through Thursday the 27th has swells around 2ft to 4ft, but the winds are all over the place – onshore, cross-onshore, you name it. The water is a weird 73°F with a massive anomaly of 6°F warmer than usual, which is very unusual. The combined energy is weak to moderate (314 to 717), but the surf quality is just poor. It’s not worth your time.

Then we hit a dead zone. From Friday the 28th all the way through to Thursday the 3rd of September, it’s the same story: tiny swell, 2ft to 4ft, with light to gentle breezes but always cross-onshore, making it choppy. The energy is moderate (236 to 693), but the waves are junk. A few “marginal” tags here and there, but nothing a surfer would actually drive for.

Now, here’s the standout. Friday the 4th of September morning at 56th St. This is the only window worth circling on the calendar. The swell is 3ft from the SSW, with a period of 17 seconds – that’s a proper long-period groundswell. The wind? Dead flat. Glassy. Slightest whisper of air. The report says “glassy.” That’s pure magic for a break like this. The energy is moderate (524), and the direction is right on the money for the optimum SW. The break is sheltered, very consistent, and while crowds are sometimes an issue, with conditions this clean, you’ll be sharing the lineup. This is a beginner-friendly size, too. But mark my words – it’s only the morning. By afternoon, that cross-onshore messes it up again.

After that brief moment of glory, we’re back to the grind. Saturday the 5th through to Wednesday the 9th of September is more of the same: 2ft to 3ft, cross-onshore winds, poor surf. The energy stays moderate (307 to 601), but the quality is just not there. It’s a real shame, because the swell period is often long (14 to 19 seconds), meaning there’s energy in the water, but the wind ruins it. A couple of mornings have a chance of being okay, but don’t hold your breath.

Bottom line: you’ve got one shot – the morning of Friday the 4th of September. Glassy conditions, clean groundswell, and a friendly wave. Everything else is a hard pass. Hang in there, forecasts can change.

Rusty.

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