120th Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you: the surf is pretty much a no-go for the first week and a half. We’re lookin’ at a long, dry spell with next to nothing on offer. The first real possibility of anything even worth paddling out for doesn’t pop up until Wednesday, July 22nd, but even then, it’s not gonna be anything to write home about.

The first spot worth a mention is 120th Street. It’s a beach and jetty setup, so it’s exposed and can pick up a bit of swell. For the first few days, from Friday the 17th right through to Tuesday the 22nd, it’s a flat, bumpy mess. The wind is all over the place, mostly cross or cross-onshore, and the swell is tiny, well under 2 ft. We’re talkin’ combined energy values in the teens and twenties – that’s weak, barely a ripple. Don’t bother.

Now, Wednesday the 22nd shows a little pulse. The morning brings a 4 ft swell from the SSE, with a short period of 8 seconds. The wind is a clean cross-off from the WNW, which is a big plus. The combined energy jumps to 230 (moderate), which is the most we’ve seen. The afternoon drops a bit to 4 ft, still clean, with energy at 153. It’s not the best shape, but it’s the only half-decent window in the first week. The water’s a touch warmer than normal at 77°, feels nice.

After that, it’s back to the doldrums. Thursday the 23rd is clean but small, and Friday the 24th has a brief moment of 2 ft from the SE with a 9-second period in the afternoon, giving us a weak energy of 110. Still, nothin’ exciting.

The real standout? I’m looking at Tuesday, July 28th. The afternoon session at 120th Street offers a glassy, clean surface with the wind goin’ dead calm from the north. The swell is a tiny 2 ft from the ESE, but that glassy wind is a rare treat. The combined energy is only 47, so the waves will be weak, but if you’re desperate for a clean, small wave to slide around on, that’s your best bet. The morning before that is also clean, but with a 12 mph cross-off breeze.

The rest of the run into early August is a wash. The swell is tiny, the wind is mostly onshore or cross, and the scores are all zero. There’s a glimmer on Thursday, July 30th afternoon with a “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions” rating and a score of 1, but with a 1 ft swell and 9-second period, it’s just a rumor. The energy is a weak 60.

So, for the best of what’s on offer: Tuesday, July 28th afternoon is the pick for the glassiest, cleanest, albeit tiny, waves. Wednesday, July 22nd morning is the biggest swell combo, but still short-period and not great quality. Don’t hold your breath for anything epic.

Rusty.

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