Florida - East Coast
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Atlantic 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.
Sat, May 16: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Aim for the middle of the day — 2-3ft on E swell at 7s with 11mph E winds.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on E swell at 8s with 8mph SSE winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 13mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Mon, May 18: 3–4ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on ESE swell at 7s with light winds out of the SE. The E wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor - fair by then.
Tue, May 19: 3–4ft, 6s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on E swell at 10s and light winds out of the ESE. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Wed, May 20: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on ESE swell at 5s and glassy conditions. The E wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor - fair by then.
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Atlantic Beach offers multiple sandbars to choose from along its stretch of east-facing coastline, south of Mayport and north of Neptune Beach. Generally smaller waves and fewer crowds than the Poles or the Pier make it ideal for beginners. Both left and right handers break along shifting sandbars, and it serves as a mellow gateway to the more powerful breaks nearby.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Atlantic Beach is 2-3+ft with a 6.85s swell period. Wind is ENE at 7mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Atlantic Beach is 2-3+ft, produced by a 1.2ft ENE primary swell at 6s, a 1.1ft ESE secondary swell at 8s, a 0.3ft E tertiary swell at 12s, a 2.1ft E wind swell swell at 4s. 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 Atlantic Beach is Wednesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 5.25s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Atlantic 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 Atlantic 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.
Atlantic Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Atlantic Beach offers multiple sandbars to choose from along its stretch of east-facing coastline, south of Mayport and north of Neptune Beach. Generally smaller waves and fewer crowds than the Poles or the Pier make it ideal for beginners. Both left and right handers break along shifting sandbars, and it serves as a mellow gateway to the more powerful breaks nearby.
The prime season at Atlantic 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 Atlantic Beach include rip currents, sharks, stingrays, crowds during summer, jellyfish. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Atlantic 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
