Florida - East Coast
Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and very poor with moderate ENE wind around 10mph.
Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and very poor with moderate ENE wind around 10mph.
Best window·Friday 10AM–1PM·2-3ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at American Beach, 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. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on E swell at 5s with 10mph from the ENE. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Fair. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 2-3ft with gentle SSE breeze. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with light SW winds.
Sun, Sep 6: 0–1ft, 4s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with light winds out of the W.
Mon, Sep 7: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. The sweet spot is around midday — 1-2ft waves, light ENE winds, poor conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning. Don't wait too long — the wind comes back up after lunch.
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 American Beach turns Good.
Check American Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
American Beach is a historically significant stretch of shoreline on south Amelia Island, founded in 1935 as a recreation destination for African Americans during segregation. Home to NaNa, the tallest sand dune in Florida, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The surf is similar to the rest of the island — open beach break peaks on NE swells — but the compact beach and lesser-known status keep crowds minimal.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at American Beach 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 American Beach 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 American Beach is Friday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 3ft waves, a 5s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
American Beach 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 American Beach. 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.
American Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. American Beach is a historically significant stretch of shoreline on south Amelia Island, founded in 1935 as a recreation destination for African Americans during segregation. Home to NaNa, the tallest sand dune in Florida, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The surf is similar to the rest of the island — open beach break peaks on NE swells — but the compact beach and lesser-known status keep crowds minimal.
The prime season at American Beach 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 American Beach include strong currents, rip currents, jellyfish, sharks, soft shifting sandbars. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our American Beach 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).
