New Jersey
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Belmar, 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: 3–4ft, 10s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on ESE swell at 9s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 17mph from the SSE and dropping conditions to poor.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Fair - Good. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on SSE swell at 6s and light winds out of the WSW. Onshore flow builds through the day to 14mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Mon, May 18: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SSE swell at 8s with light WNW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 8mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with light SW winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 11mph.
Wed, May 20: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SSE swell at 8s with 9mph SW winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 13mph from the SW and dropping conditions to fair.
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Belmar is the epicenter of New Jersey surfing, with different avenues offering distinct characters — 8th Avenue is the locals' barrel spot with a fiercely territorial crew, while 16th Avenue and the public beaches provide more accessible peaks for the broader surf community. The east-facing beach picks up virtually every Atlantic swell, and fall hurricane season delivers punchy, hollow conditions over well-shaped sandbars. Home to multiple surf shops, competitions, and a deep surf culture, Belmar has been the heartbeat of Jersey Shore surfing for decades.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Belmar is 3-4ft with a 9.3s 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 Belmar is 3-4ft, produced by a 3.1ft ESE primary swell at 9s. 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 Belmar is Sunday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 4ft waves, a 6.1s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Belmar 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 Belmar. 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.
Belmar is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Belmar is the epicenter of New Jersey surfing, with different avenues offering distinct characters — 8th Avenue is the locals' barrel spot with a fiercely territorial crew, while 16th Avenue and the public beaches provide more accessible peaks for the broader surf community. The east-facing beach picks up virtually every Atlantic swell, and fall hurricane season delivers punchy, hollow conditions over well-shaped sandbars. Home to multiple surf shops, competitions, and a deep surf culture, Belmar has been the heartbeat of Jersey Shore surfing for decades.
The prime season at Belmar 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 Belmar include crowds, localism, rip currents, strong currents, jetty pilings. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Belmar 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.
