55th Street Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the only spot on the menu.

Straight up, it's a tough run ahead. We're looking at 55th Street Pier, a beach/jetty setup that's fairly exposed. The water is sitting at a very warm 78°, which is 4° above normal for this time of year – that's notably warmer than usual, so you might not need the thickest wetsuit.

The forecast is a long, dry stretch. From the 22nd of August all the way through to the morning of the 2nd of September, it's a total write-off. Every single session is rated as "poor surf conditions". The swell is tiny, barely kicking above 1.0ft to 1ft most of the time, and the combined energy is weak, sitting in the low double digits or teens. The wind isn't doing us any favours either, mostly cross-on or cross-shore, keeping things choppy and messy. There's a glimmer of glassy or offshore conditions on the 23rd, 24th, 25th, and 31st of August, but with barely a ripple of swell, it's a flat, clean lake, not surf.

After that long, boring gap, we finally see a pulse of energy arrive on the 2nd of September. The Wednesday morning session shows a 1ft swell from the SE with a period of 12 seconds, and the combined energy climbs to 90. That's a moderate energy reading. The wind is a light cross-off, and it's described as "clean". The afternoon gets even better: glassy conditions with a 2ft swell from the SE, period of 11 seconds, and energy at 73. The commentary finally changes to "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions". This is the only window that even looks like you might get a couple of small, clean, slow waves. It's not going to be epic, but it's the best on offer.

The following days, the 3rd and 4th of September, see a slight bump in height to 2ft and 3ft, but the period drops to a pathetic 6 to 8 seconds, and the wind turns onshore or cross-on. That's junky, weak windswell, not worth paddling out for. By the 5th and 6th of September, it's back to tiny, weak, cross-on dribble.

So, the standout, if you can call it that, is the 2nd of September. The morning has a clean, cross-off wind and a long-period groundswell, which means the sets will be well-spaced. The afternoon is glassy. For a beach/jetty break, that long period (12 seconds) is okay, but it might make the waves a bit fat and straight-breaking. Given the small size, it's fine for intermediates. The crowds are listed as "sometimes", so you might have a few others with the same idea, but it won't be a zoo.

The rest of the 16-day window is a total dud. If you're desperate, the 2nd of September is your only real shot, but keep your expectations on the floor. It's a tough time of year for this stretch of coast.

Stay patient, Rusty.

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