New Jersey
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at 56th St. for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at 56th 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 Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 1ft and poor with calm winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 14mph.
Wed, Jul 1: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1ft and very poor conditions with moderate SSW wind around 8mph. Expect the wind to bump up to around 19mph by PM.
Thu, Jul 2: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with 9mph from the SW. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 15mph.
Fri, Jul 3: 1–1ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1ft and poor conditions with 7mph WSW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 13mph.
Sat, Jul 4: 1–1ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 1ft and poor with 7mph W winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 13mph by PM.
56th Street is a quality beach break in Sea Isle City on the southern New Jersey coast, where the coastline angles to pick up SE swells particularly well from tropical systems and coastal storms. The shifting sandbars produce punchy, hollow peaks that reward experienced surfers, especially during fall hurricane season when powerful groundswells combine with NW offshore winds for clean, well-shaped conditions. A step up in consistency from the surrounding beaches.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at 56th St. is 0-1ft with a 9.05s swell period. Wind is SSE at 11mph and 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 56th St. is 0-1ft, 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 56th St. is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 5.2s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
56th 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 56th 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.
56th St. is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. 56th Street is a quality beach break in Sea Isle City on the southern New Jersey coast, where the coastline angles to pick up SE swells particularly well from tropical systems and coastal storms. The shifting sandbars produce punchy, hollow peaks that reward experienced surfers, especially during fall hurricane season when powerful groundswells combine with NW offshore winds for clean, well-shaped conditions. A step up in consistency from the surrounding beaches.
The prime season at 56th 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 56th St. include rip currents, shifting sandbars, crowded lineups in summer, cold water in winter, strong longshore drift. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our 56th 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.
