55th Street Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a proper look at what's on the table for 55th Street Pier.

To be straight with you, the next week and a half is a tough stretch. We’re looking at a long, flat spell with barely a ripple. From now through to about the 17th of August, the swell is almost nonexistent, with combined energies barely hitting double digits – it’s flat, mate. The water’s a touch warmer than normal for this time of year at 78°, but that’s no consolation when you’re sitting on a board with nothing under you. Tuesday afternoon the 11th starts things off with a tiny 0.3 ft of short-period SE windswell, and it just doesn’t improve. There’s a little bump of 2 ft on the Saturday morning with a junk 5-second period and cross-onshore wind, so it’d be all chop and closeouts. That stretch of poor conditions drags on, with most days offering nothing worth paddling out for. We finally see a pulse of energy showing up on the 18th of August. Tuesday morning brings a long-period 15-second groundswell from the southeast, pushing the combined energy to a moderate 51 (moderate wave energy), but it’s only 1.0 ft – so you’re still looking at ankle-biters. The period is tasty, but there’s just not enough height to make it count. Winds are light cross-shore, so it would be clean if there was any wave to surf.

The best chance in this whole 16-day window shapes up on Wednesday the 19th. The morning offers 2 ft of SE swell with an 11-second period and combined energy jumping to 77 (moderate wave energy). The wind is a light cross-offshore from the southwest, keeping the face reasonably clean. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. This is a beach and jetty setup, and the swell direction is coming from the southeast, which isn’t the optimum northeast direction for this spot, so the waves will be a bit weak and messy. It’s not the standout we’d hope for, but given the famine before it, it’s about the only window with something resembling a wave. If you’re an intermediate who’s desperate for a paddle, that Wednesday morning is your only real look.

Beyond that, the 22nd of August shows a bit more energy with 3 ft of ESE swell, but the wind is moderate cross-off, and the period is a short 5 seconds, meaning bumpy, weak waves. Then it flat-lines again. Honestly, this run feels more like a break from surfing than anything else. The setup at the pier might actually be more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing on those days with onshore wind and small chop.

Hang in there, but don't hold your breath. This forecast is a dud for us.

Rusty.

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