55th Street Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what we’ve got coming up for 55th Street Pier.

To be straight with you, this forecast is a tough one. We’re looking at a long stretch – over two weeks – where the swell just doesn’t show up with any real energy. The wave energy numbers are all weak, sitting under 100 for the whole period, usually in the teens or twenties, and most days the call is just “poor surf conditions.” There’s a gap right from the start with nothing worth paddling out for.

The first few days are a write-off. Saturday July 4th has a tiny 1 ft swell from the SE with a period of 9 seconds, but the wind is a cross-off 6 mph, keeping things clean. The problem is there’s just no power – wave energy is only 21, and it’s basically a lake. Sunday July 5th has a similar story: 1.0 ft swell. The morning brings a light 3 mph offshore from the WNW, so it’ll be glassy clean, but with energy at 12, you’re not surfing, you’re floating.

We get a little bump mid-week. Tuesday July 7th shows 2 ft from the E with a short period of 6 seconds. The morning has a 6 mph offshore from the WNW, so it will be clean. The wave energy is still weak though at 32. Wednesday July 8th afternoon actually goes glassy with a 3 mph wind from the SSE and the 1 ft swell from the E. That calm wind is a major positive for clean surface conditions, but again, with energy at 29, it’s a dribbler.

The second week keeps up the same pattern. Sunday July 12th has the biggest swell of the whole run at 3 ft from the E, with a short period of 5 seconds. The afternoon has a 12 mph offshore from the W. The energy climbs to 38, which is still weak, but it’s the best we’ll see. Tuesday July 14th afternoon also pokes its head up with a 3 ft swell from the S, period of 4 seconds, and light 6 mph cross-off breeze. Energy is 45 – again, not enough to get excited about. For the rest of the month, it’s all 0.3 ft to 2 ft slop.

If I’m picking the *one* standout here – and I’m using that word loosely – it’s Sunday afternoon July 12th or Tuesday afternoon July 14th. Those have the biggest swell heights (3 ft and 3 ft) and both have clean offshore wind, which is about the best you can ask for in this run. Even then, the period is super short (4 or 5 seconds), so it’ll be weak and crumbly. The 3 ft S swell on the 14th is a little bigger, but the direction is not ideal for the break’s optimum NE.

The water temp is about average for this time of year along the beach.

Crowds at 55th Street Pier can be a thing sometimes, but with surf this poor, you might have it to yourself anyway. For a beach and jetty setup with such tiny, weak swell, this looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddler.

Stay patient, folks. This blank run is a tough one, but forecasts can always change.

Rusty.

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