New Jersey
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Bay Head, 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. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on E swell at 10s and glassy conditions. The S wind kicks in by afternoon — 17mph and poor by then.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SSE swell at 7s with light WSW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 14mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with light winds out of the WNW. Afternoon breeze fills in to 8mph.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with light winds out of the SW. Expect the wind to bump up to around 11mph by PM.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SE swell at 10s and 9mph from the SW. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 13mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor.
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Bay Head is one of New Jersey's best-known surf breaks, famous for its groyne field that shapes sandbars into fast, hollow right-hand barrels. The rock groins focus swell energy and create defined peaks that produce some of the most consistent quality waves on the Jersey Shore, especially during fall nor'easters and hurricane swells. A strong local crew keeps the lineup competitive, but the wave quality here draws surfers from across the tri-state area.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Bay Head is 2-3ft with a 9.35s swell period. Wind is SW 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 Bay Head is 2-3ft, produced by a 3ft E primary swell at 10s, a 1.4ft SSE secondary swell at 8s. 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 Bay Head is Saturday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 3ft waves, a 9.35s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Bay Head 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 Bay Head. 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.
Bay Head is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Bay Head is one of New Jersey's best-known surf breaks, famous for its groyne field that shapes sandbars into fast, hollow right-hand barrels. The rock groins focus swell energy and create defined peaks that produce some of the most consistent quality waves on the Jersey Shore, especially during fall nor'easters and hurricane swells. A strong local crew keeps the lineup competitive, but the wave quality here draws surfers from across the tri-state area.
The prime season at Bay Head 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 Bay Head include groyne rocks, strong currents, localism, crowded lineups, cold water. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Bay Head 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.
