New Jersey
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at 18th St. for the cleanest windows.
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 1–1ft, 10s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1ft waves and poor conditions with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 14mph.
Wed, Jul 1: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1ft and mostly very poor with moderate SSW wind around 8mph. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 20mph.
Thu, Jul 2: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with moderate SSW wind around 8mph.
Fri, Jul 3: 1–1ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1ft and poor conditions with gentle WSW breeze.
Sat, Jul 4: 1–1ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1ft and mostly very poor with gentle W breeze. Afternoon breeze fills in to 13mph.
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 1ft with a 9.05s swell period. Wind is S at 11mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at 18th St. is 1ft, produced by a 1.3ft ESE primary swell at 6s, a 1ft ESE secondary swell at 9s, a 0.5ft S wind swell swell at 2s. 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 Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 1ft waves, a 5.2s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
