Florida - East Coast
Expect 1-2ft waves early on E swell at 7s.
Expect 1-2ft waves early on E swell at 7s.
Best window·Friday 6AM–9AM·2-3ft·Fair - Good
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. 2-3ft waves to start the day on E swell at 5s.
Fri, Sep 4: 3–4ft, 7s period, rated Fair. Midday is the call — 2-3+ft waves with light winds out of the SSE and fair conditions. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on ESE swell at 5s with light SW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 12mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Sun, Sep 6: 0–1ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with 8mph W winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 12mph.
Mon, Sep 7: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on E swell at 9s and light winds out of the NNW. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Very Poor today — get one free email when 18th Street turns Good.
Check 18th Street from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 1-2ft with a 9.1s swell period. Wind is ENE at 10mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at 18th Street is 1-2ft, produced by a 2.4ft E primary swell at 9s. 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 Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 6.8s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. 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. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
