Maryland
Skip the dawn patrol — 2-3ft and very poor early on.
Skip the dawn patrol — 2-3ft and very poor early on.
Best window·Saturday 6AM–9AM·2-3ft·Fair - Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Assateague, Maryland. 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 Poor. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on SE swell at 9s with 13mph SW winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Midday is the call — 1-2ft waves with gentle W breeze and poor - fair conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SSE swell at 6s and strong NNW wind at 15mph. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Sun, Sep 6: 3–4ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on NNE swell at 4s with 12mph N winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Mon, Sep 7: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Expect 2-3+ft all day on ENE swell at 7s with light NNE winds — nothing amazing but surfable.
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 Assateague turns Good.
Check Assateague from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Assateague Island offers accessible beach breaks along Maryland's Atlantic coast, with consistent sandbars that create peeling waves suitable for learners and intermediate surfers. The wide, sandy beach provides plenty of space and the mellow wave shape makes it a forgiving spot to develop your skills. Fall swells combined with offshore westerly winds produce the most favorable conditions, though summer and winter also deliver rideable waves.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Assateague is 2-3ft with a 8.8s swell period. Wind is SW at 13mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Assateague is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.7ft SE primary swell at 9s, a 1.6ft ENE wind swell swell at 6s, a 1ft SSW 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 Assateague is Saturday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 6s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Assateague 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 Assateague. 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.
Assateague is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Assateague Island offers accessible beach breaks along Maryland's Atlantic coast, with consistent sandbars that create peeling waves suitable for learners and intermediate surfers. The wide, sandy beach provides plenty of space and the mellow wave shape makes it a forgiving spot to develop your skills. Fall swells combined with offshore westerly winds produce the most favorable conditions, though summer and winter also deliver rideable waves.
The prime season at Assateague 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 Assateague include strong currents, shallow water, wild horses on beach. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Assateague 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).
