47th Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you: the next couple of weeks are looking pretty flat and quiet around here. The combo of swell energy and wind just isn't coming together for anything rideable. We're looking at a long stretch of tiny, weak waves, and most days the wind is going to mess up what little there is.

Right now, starting Monday the 31st of August, we've got a tiny 1 ft SE swell with a short 8-second period and a cross-on breeze. The combined wave energy is a measly 15, so don't expect to paddle out for anything. The water temperature is sitting at 77°, which is a good 5° warmer than usual for this time of year – you'll feel that. That's a big anomaly.

The pattern continues through the first week of September. Tuesday morning the 1st has a clean offshore wind, but the swell is only 1.0 ft with a 7-second period. It's a glassy surface, but there's no power behind it. Wednesday and Thursday see a slight bump in size to 2 ft and a longer 11-second period, but the wind is cross-on or onshore, and the energy only climbs to a weak 101 (moderate). Still, "poor surf conditions" is the verdict.

Friday the 4th through to the 10th of September is a dead zone. We're talking swell heights of 1.0 ft to 2 ft, mostly short period, and the wind is either cross, cross-on, or onshore. The combined energy is stuck in the single digits to low teens. It's a complete dry spell. By the 10th, we even get a strong breeze on Thursday, hitting 25 mph from the NE, making it messy.

The middle of the month finally shows a pulse. On Sunday the 13th of September, we see a 4 ft S swell. That's the biggest swell in the whole forecast. But the period is only 6 seconds – short-period windswell – and the wind is cross-on, so the surface will be choppy. The combined energy hits 124, which is into the moderate range. It's still "poor surf conditions," so don't get too excited. The following Monday the 14th has a glassy morning with a 0.7 ft ESE swell, but again, it's tiny.

There's a gap of several days with no real recommendations, which is pretty normal for this area when the conditions line up like this. The only thing that might hold a shred of interest is that 4 ft S swell on the 13th, but honestly, with the short period and cross-on wind, it's not worth paddling out for. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The forecasts are more reliable for the next few days, and since nothing is happening, I'd say it's a good time to wax the board, check your fins, and wait for the next proper system to roll through.

Rusty.

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