Florida - East Coast
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at 18th Street, Florida - East Coast. 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, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Aim for the middle of the day — 2-3ft on E swell at 7s with 11mph E winds.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 3-4ft waves and poor - fair conditions with 8mph from the SSE. Afternoon breeze fills in to 13mph.
Mon, May 18: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on ESE swell at 7s with light winds out of the SE. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 12mph from the E and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Tue, May 19: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on E swell at 10s with light winds out of the E. The E wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor - fair by then.
Wed, May 20: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on ESE swell at 5s with barely a breath of wind. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 13mph from the E and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
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18th Street is a laid-back beach break tucked along Florida's East Coast near Jacksonville Beach, where the Atlantic coastline faces northeast and picks up energy from passing nor'easters and tropical swells. Waves here tend to be punchy and short-lived, offering fun peaks ideal for longboarders and beginners working on their fundamentals. The spot comes alive in fall when hurricane-generated swells push up the coast, delivering some of the best conditions this stretch of Florida's East Coast has to offer.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at 18th Street is 2-3ft with a 6.85s swell period. Wind is ENE 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 Street is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.2ft ENE primary swell at 6s, a 1.1ft ESE secondary swell at 8s, a 0.3ft E tertiary swell at 12s, a 2.1ft E wind swell swell at 4s. 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 Street is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 5s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
18th Street works best with a NE swell and W 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 Street. 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 Street is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. 18th Street is a laid-back beach break tucked along Florida's East Coast near Jacksonville Beach, where the Atlantic coastline faces northeast and picks up energy from passing nor'easters and tropical swells. Waves here tend to be punchy and short-lived, offering fun peaks ideal for longboarders and beginners working on their fundamentals. The spot comes alive in fall when hurricane-generated swells push up the coast, delivering some of the best conditions this stretch of Florida's East Coast has to offer.
The prime season at 18th Street 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 Street include strong currents, rip currents, jellyfish, sharks, crowds during peak swell. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our 18th Street 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.
