Maryland
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.
Sat, May 16: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on E swell at 10s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 17mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 2-3ft with 8mph WNW winds. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with 7mph from the SW.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SE swell at 9s with 8mph SW winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 16mph from the S and dropping conditions to poor.
Wed, May 20: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SE swell at 9s with 10mph from the SSW. Onshore flow builds through the day to 15mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
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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 9.4s swell period. Wind is S at 11mph and conditions are rated Poor - Fair. 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 2.4ft E primary swell at 10s, a 1.6ft SE secondary swell at 9s, a 1ft SSW wind swell swell at 3s. 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 Sunday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 3ft waves, a 6.3s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
