120th Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you. For the next 16 days at 120th Street, it’s looking like a tough spell. The forecast is pretty much a write-off for any decent surf. Every single day through the period is flagged as poor surf conditions, so there’s no standout session to get excited about. We’ve got a gap of no real surf from now all the way through to the end of the forecast on July 27th.

Let’s start with the early part. Sunday July 12th, we’ve got a weak 3ft swell from the east-northeast, but the period is a short, crumbly 5 seconds, with a brisk onshore breeze from the east at 16 mph. The combined energy is a measly 71, so there’s just no power in the water. Water temp is sitting at 77°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. The onshore wind will kill any shape, making it a messy, choppy mess.

Moving into Monday July 13th, the swell drops a fraction to 3ft, still from the southeast, still a short 6-second period. The wind goes cross-onshore, so expect a fair bit of chop. Not worth paddling out for.

Tuesday July 14th morning actually goes glassy, with zero wind and a tiny 2ft east swell. Sounds promising, but it’s still a poor surf rating. The wave energy is just 40, and the swell is too small and weak to hold up. The afternoon turns clean with a cross-offshore breeze, but the swell drops to 1ft. You might get a knee-high ripple, but it’s not going to have any push.

The rest of the week is more of the same. Wednesday July 15th offers clean conditions with a cross-offshore wind, but the swell is a pathetic 1ft and 1.0ft, with energy dropping into the 20s and 30s. Thursday July 16th morning sees a brief offshore wind from the west, but the swell is only 2ft from the south with a short 5-second period. The sets will be few and far between.

Friday July 17th is a no-go. The swell plummets to 0.7ft. Even if the wind is clean, there’s nothing to ride.

The second week doesn’t improve. From Saturday July 18th onward, the swell stays tiny, mostly under 2ft, with periods that are either short or from angles that don’t suit the break. The best you’ll see is on Tuesday July 21st, where the swell nudges up to 3ft and 4ft on the afternoon, with combined energy hitting 110. But the wind is cross-shore and choppy, and the period is still a short 6 seconds. The conditions are still poor. By Wednesday July 22nd, the energy climbs to 136, but it’s still a 3ft south swell with a 6-second period, and the wind is cross-off, keeping it clean but weak. It’s just not enough to make it worthwhile.

The setup is a beach and jetty, so with the onshore winds and weak swell, it’s honestly more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing on most of these days. We’re looking at a real blank run here. For the area, it’s going to be a quiet stretch. Forecasts can change, but right now, keep your board in the car and wait for a better window.

Rusty.

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