New Jersey
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Bay Head for the cleanest windows.
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 2–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2ft waves on ESE swell at 9s and glassy conditions. The SSE wind kicks in by afternoon — 14mph and very poor by then.
Wed, Jul 1: 2–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. Midday is the call — 1-2ft waves with 10mph SW winds and poor - fair conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning. Don't wait too long — the wind comes back up after lunch.
Thu, Jul 2: 2–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor - Fair. Not the most exciting day — 2ft and poor - fair conditions with 7mph SW winds.
Fri, Jul 3: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with light winds out of the NW.
Sat, Jul 4: 2–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. Aim for the middle of the day — 1-2ft on S swell at 5s with light W winds. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
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 1-2ft with a 9.05s swell period. Wind is SSE at 11mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Bay Head is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.6ft ESE primary swell at 9s, a 1.1ft S 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 Bay Head is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 5.75s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
