Virginia
Skip the dawn patrol — 1-2ft and very poor early on.
Skip the dawn patrol — 1-2ft and very poor early on.
Best window·Tuesday 6AM–9AM·2-3ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at 1st St. Jetty, Virginia. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on ESE swell at 9s with light winds out of the ENE. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the ENE and dropping conditions to poor.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on SSE swell at 4s and strong WSW wind at 13mph. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on S swell at 4s with strong NW wind at 16mph. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and very poor conditions with 18mph NNE winds.
Mon, Sep 7: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Very Poor. 3-4ft waves to start the day on ENE swell at 6s.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor today — get one free email when 1st St. Jetty turns Good.
Check 1st St. Jetty from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
1st St. Jetty is a sandy beach break located in Virginia Beach, anchored by the jetty structure that helps shape consistent waves along this popular east-facing stretch of coast. The spot works best with easterly Atlantic swells and light offshore winds from the west, creating clean peaks suitable for surfers of all abilities. This accessible break offers a fun introduction to surfing with its forgiving sand bottom and proximity to local amenities.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at 1st St. Jetty is 1-2ft with a 8.7s swell period. Wind is ENE at 6mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at 1st St. Jetty is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.5ft ESE primary swell at 9s, a 1.2ft NE wind swell swell at 6s, a 0.6ft SE 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 1st St. Jetty is Tuesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 9.9s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
1st St. Jetty works best with a E 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 1st St. Jetty. 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.
1st St. Jetty is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. 1st St. Jetty is a sandy beach break located in Virginia Beach, anchored by the jetty structure that helps shape consistent waves along this popular east-facing stretch of coast. The spot works best with easterly Atlantic swells and light offshore winds from the west, creating clean peaks suitable for surfers of all abilities. This accessible break offers a fun introduction to surfing with its forgiving sand bottom and proximity to local amenities.
The prime season at 1st St. Jetty 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 1st St. Jetty include jetty, strong currents near jetty structure. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our 1st St. Jetty 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).
