48th Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the table for the next 16 days at 48th Street.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this is a tough stretch. We're looking at a whole lot of days with poor surf conditions and not much to get excited about. The water temp is sitting right around 75°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so at least you won't be freezing your toes off.

The first real glimmer of anything happens on Monday, the 3rd of August. We've got a morning window with a 5ft SSE swell, but it's a short-period 8 seconds, so it'll be a bit lumpy. The wind is a cross-offshore from the southwest, which will keep things clean, but the overall energy is only moderate at 315. It's marginal at best, and honestly, it's not going to blow your mind.

We then hit a long dry spell. From Tuesday the 4th right through to Sunday the 9th, it's all poor surf. You'll see small choppy waves with onshore or cross-shore winds, and the swell direction is all over the place. Nothing worth paddling out for.

Now, there's a tiny blip on Monday the 10th of August. The morning shows a glassy 3ft swell from the south, with no wind at all. It's a 5-second period, so it's weak, but at least it's clean. The energy is a paltry 63 (weak), so the waves are going to be small and pretty ordinary. It's surfable, but don't expect any barrels.

After that, it's back to the grind. Tuesday the 11th through to the end of the forecast on the 17th is more of the same: small, weak swells, poor conditions, and mostly cross or onshore winds. There's a Wednesday morning on the 12th with a 4ft south swell and a 6-second period, but the energy is only 147 (still moderate), and it's just "surfable but very ordinary."

So what's the pick of the litter? It's grim, but I'd say the best bet is Monday morning, August 10th at 48th Street. The glassy conditions are a rare treat, and the 3ft from the south will offer a few bumpy rides. It's a beach/jetty setup, so it's exposed to the swell, but the direction is a bit off from the ideal SE. Still, it's the cleanest we'll see all fortnight.

For the rest of it, I'd leave the board at home. The swell is too small and the wind is too messy. If you're desperate, you could try the Monday the 3rd morning, but it's a real gamble. Honestly, this is a stretch where the forecast looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, given the consistent cross-shore winds.

Stay patient, and keep an eye on the charts – it can't stay this flat forever.

Rusty.

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