New Jersey
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at 18th St., New Jersey. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sat, May 16: 2–3ft, 10s period, rated Poor. Midday is the call — 2-3ft waves with strong S wind at 15mph and poor conditions.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SSE swell at 6s and light W winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 13mph from the S and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with calm winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 10mph by PM.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. The sweet spot is around midday — 1-2ft waves, moderate SW wind around 10mph, poor - fair conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down. Afternoon wind picks back up so try to get wet before 2pm.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. The sweet spot is around midday — 1-2ft waves, 11mph from the SW, poor - fair conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning. Don't wait too long — the wind comes back up after lunch.
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18th Street in Ocean City is a reliable beach break where jetty-shaped sandbars produce punchy, hollow peaks that reward experienced surfers. The SE-facing exposure picks up a wide range of swells, with fall hurricane season and early nor'easters delivering the most powerful and well-shaped conditions. A well-loved local spot that consistently produces quality waves when other OC blocks are flat.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at 18th St. is 2-3ft with a 9.55s swell period. Wind is S at 7mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at 18th St. is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.9ft E primary swell at 10s, a 1.2ft SE secondary swell at 8s, a 0.7ft SSW wind swell swell at 3s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf 18th St. is Saturday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 2ft waves, a 9.55s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
18th St. works best with a SE swell and NW winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at 18th St.. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
18th St. is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. 18th Street in Ocean City is a reliable beach break where jetty-shaped sandbars produce punchy, hollow peaks that reward experienced surfers. The SE-facing exposure picks up a wide range of swells, with fall hurricane season and early nor'easters delivering the most powerful and well-shaped conditions. A well-loved local spot that consistently produces quality waves when other OC blocks are flat.
The prime season at 18th St. is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at 18th St. include rip currents, shifting sandbars, crowded lineups during summer, cold water in winter, occasional beach closures. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our 18th St. forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable. Extended forecasts show general trends. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
