120th Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s happening at 120th Street.

Honestly, the next two weeks are looking pretty bleak. We’ve got a long stretch of tiny, weak swell that’s going to leave you frustrated. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no worries there, but you’ll be twiddling your thumbs.

From now through the 15th of September, it’s a total drought. The swell is tiny, mostly under 2 feet, with short periods that won’t pack any punch. The combined energy is weak, sitting in the double digits, so you’re just looking at poor surf conditions. The wind goes cross-offshore a few times, which would keep the surface clean, but there’s nothing to ride.

The wind kicks up a bit on the 6th and 7th, making it choppy, so not worth the effort. On the 13th of September, there’s a little bump in energy, with swell around 4 to 4 feet and combined energy hitting the 100s, but it’s coming from the NE with a short period and cross-onshore wind. That’s going to be a messy, lumpy beach break.

The best of a bad run is the 16th of September. The swell is still small, only about 3 feet from the NE, with a short period of 5 seconds, but the wind finally goes offshore from the WSW. That’ll give you clean, glassy waves. The combined energy is moderate, so it’s surfable, but it’s very ordinary. It’s the only real window of opportunity, and it’s not a standout. For a beginner, 3 feet is fine; for anyone else, it’s just a fun little session.

After that, it drops back to nothing on the 17th and 18th, with a tiny long-period groundswell that’s too weak to matter. The 19th of September shows another pulse of 3 feet from the E with offshore wind, but again, it’s just ordinary.

So here’s the deal: if you’re itching for a paddle, the 16th of September is your best bet. It’s clean, but don’t expect much. The rest of the time, you’re better off doing something else. This is a real test of patience.

Rusty.

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