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Unofficial summer has begun in NYC, and as the weather warms, city dwellers will start flocking to New York City’s eight public beaches. Here’s what to know before heading out, from the people who know the surf best — how to choose the right spot, navigate the weather and stay safe.

Microclimate-spotting

Thanks to ocean breezes, the city’s beaches and bays often experience a microclimate that can make them feel noticeably cooler than inland areas just a few miles away, according to Sean Bolebruch, captain and co-owner of Sail Rockaway Boat Tours in Jamaica Bay. 

To make sure he can run daily tours and lessons, Bolebruch checks hyperlocal, hourly weather and wind reports at weather.com before opening up shop.

“If the wind gusts are over 25 mph, it’s just not safe or comfortable to sail, but I’ll still do lessons if it’s raining,” Bolebruch says.

Even if a storm is hitting the city, that doesn’t mean your beach day will be a wash.

“If the city is 90 degrees, it’s probably in the low 80s out here,” Bolebruch says of the Rockaway peninsula’s weather quirk. “One really cool aspect of the southern breeze is that, though it might be downpouring in Brooklyn or Westchester, it can be sunny over here — and we’ll just watch the thunder and lightning from a mile away.”

 One rule of thumb, he says, is to never lump all of New York City’s weather together. 

“Growing up on Long Island, my mom would take me in the car to go to the beach. I’d tell her it’s raining, but she’d say ‘Just trust me,’” the captain recalls. “She would call up the Jones Beach lifeguards on a landline, and they’d tell her to come down, it’s sunny.

“At the end of the day, we’re on an island,” he adds. “Just because there’s a 30% chance of rain in Manhattan doesn’t mean it’ll rain at the beach.”

If omens of an afternoon storm didn’t make it into the weather forecast, local businesses off and on the boardwalk offer a respite. Concession stands and watering holes like Bungalow Bar, which faces the bay on Beach 92nd Street, offer a respite for waylaid beachgoers.

“July and August can bring random spurts of rain, so we’ll let customers take their food inside,” says Heather Manning, floor and events manager at Bungalow. “And we’ve got a new A/C in the back room.”

“Even when it’s drizzling, there’s still lots of stuff to do. I’ll take engers out on the boat even if it’s gnarly,” Bolebruch says.

Lightning, thunder, sewage — oh, my

All the local experts who spoke with THE CITY said swimming in lightning or thunder is a for-sure no-no, as water can conduct dangerous electrical currents. 

The city may also close any of its beaches during or after storms, as the combined rainwater and sewage system can become inundated during heavy rainfall, causing sewage to spill into nearby water bodies and the ocean, according to the Department of Environmental Protection.

The Health Department checks beaches weekly for bacteria, sewage and other contaminants, and will issue an advisory if water samples have higher-than-normal levels of bacteria.

Check the Health Department’s Beach Water Quality dashboard for orange dots (swimming bans), red or blue dots (full-beach closures) or yellow-dot “advisories,” when swimming is allowed but not recommended. If the beach icon is green, all systems are go!

Swim safety: Currents, wind and no-go zones

Wind and sun aren’t the only considerations when deciding to pack up the cooler and make the sometimes hours-long trek to the beach. Kwame Labassiere, director of the New York Surf School in Arverne, says it’s key to wait until lifeguards are on duty at 10 a.m. They are there to protect swimmers against rip currents and tide changes.

“In the Rockaways, we get some pretty extreme tide changes throughout the day,” Labassiere says. “I you come to the beach during high tide, you can be neck-deep two feet from the shore, but in two hours it’s only up to your ankles.”

Visitors should check rip-current advisories before jumping in the water, according to Labassiere, as these underwater currents move perpendicular to the shore and can pull even the strongest swimmers out to sea.

Even for non-surfers, it’s important that swimmers check the wind conditions and wave height before heading into the water. Though New York’s Atlantic waves are often much smaller than their Pacific counterparts, Labassiere says waves above 3 feet can be too much to handle for some swimmers.

“Almost every summer we do rescues of swimmers who get pulled out by the rips, and last week we had to rescue someone surfing in three- to four-foot waves,” Labassierre says.

On Windy.com’s weather site, people can search their local beach and learn the strength and direction of wind gusts. If wave height tops two feet, swimmers should take into consideration how much they’re willing to get tossed. Wind gusts can also make the beach significantly colder: on a 75-degree day, a 10 mph wind can make it feel like 72, according toLabassiere.

Tempting as it may be to get that Instagram shot, walking on the jetties between stretches of beach is not allowed. Above-ground jetties help prevent beach erosion, but they’re often slippery and can be hit by waves, making them hazardous to walk on — lifeguards will issue warnings to anyone who tries.

Beachgoers should also keep an eye out for the fenced-off habitats of piping plovers, the endangered birds that nest on the peninsula’s beaches during their March-August mating season. Look for signs posted near the beach and stay clear of their nests.

Labassiere offers some parting beach wisdom

“When you’re at the beach, : alcohol dehydrates you, and when you leave, take your stuff with you. Respect the wildlife, and have fun.”

Beach options and how to get there

There are eight public beaches spread across four of the city’s boroughs — sorry Manhattan, none for you! — and each has a slightly different vibe.

Rockaway Beach is a prime destination for surfers and subway riders, who can now access the six miles of sand via subway after a Superstorm Sandy repairs are complete, riders can take the Far Rockaway-bound A train to any of the nine stops a short walk from the beach. : If you’re heading to the popular Queens beach on two wheels, it is now required to dismount bikes on the beach’s boardwalks after 9:30 a.m.

Popular for its proximity to Luna Park and boardwalk tourist attractions like Nathan’s Hot Dogs, Coney Island is accessible via the D, F, N and Q trains to Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue or via one of four Brooklyn bus lines. Nearby Brighton Beach is quieter, popular with Eastern European and Russian locals, and can be reached via the B, F, or Q lines (though the B does not run on weekends). These two westerly beaches often have calmer waves and are slightly less exposed than the Rockaways, which can mean slightly warmer conditions. Nearby Manhattan Beach, accessible by the B49 or B1 bus lines, typically has even more gentle waters than Brighton and attracts many families with children.

For those closer to The Bronx and looking for a waveless beach day, Orchard Beach tends to be warmer and less windy thanks to its location on the Long Island Sound. New Yorkers can get off at the Pelham Bay Park stop on the No. 6 line, then transfer to the Bx29 that runs directly to the beach. Locals say Seafood City on City Island or Orchard Beach Snack Bar are great options for beach-day fuel.

What is your favorite city beach, and what makes a good beach day for you? Write to us at [email protected].