New Jersey
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Avalon, New Jersey. 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, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on ESE swell at 9s with barely a breath of wind. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 16mph from the S and dropping conditions to poor.
Sun, May 17: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with light winds out of the WSW. Expect the wind to bump up to around 9mph by PM.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with light WSW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
Tue, May 19: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Midday is the call — 2-3ft waves with 9mph from the SW and poor - fair conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down. Afternoon wind picks back up so try to get wet before 2pm.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Patience pays off today — morning is poor with 1-2ft. Afternoon shapes up better with 2-3ft and poor conditions.
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Avalon is a mellow beach break on the southern New Jersey coast, offering forgiving sandbars and rolling waves ideal for beginners and longboarders. The east-facing Atlantic exposure picks up E to NE swells from nor'easters and tropical systems, with fall delivering the most consistent and powerful surf. Its wide beaches, upscale community vibe, and relatively uncrowded lineups compared to more famous Jersey Shore spots make it a pleasant place to surf.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Avalon is 2-3ft with a 9.35s swell period. Wind is SSW at 6mph 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 Avalon is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.2ft ESE primary swell at 10s, a 1.1ft SE secondary swell at 8s, a 0.5ft SSW tertiary 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 Avalon is Wednesday from 12 PM to 3 PM with 2ft waves, a 5.5s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Avalon 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 Avalon. 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.
Avalon is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Avalon is a mellow beach break on the southern New Jersey coast, offering forgiving sandbars and rolling waves ideal for beginners and longboarders. The east-facing Atlantic exposure picks up E to NE swells from nor'easters and tropical systems, with fall delivering the most consistent and powerful surf. Its wide beaches, upscale community vibe, and relatively uncrowded lineups compared to more famous Jersey Shore spots make it a pleasant place to surf.
The prime season at Avalon 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 Avalon include rip currents, crowded summer beach traffic, shifting sandbars, jellyfish. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Avalon 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.
