Florida - East Coast
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Bethune, 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. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with barely a breath of wind. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 18mph.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on E swell at 9s with moderate SE wind around 10mph. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 15mph from the E and dropping conditions to poor.
Mon, May 18: 3–4ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on ENE swell at 10s and light winds out of the ESE. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Tue, May 19: 3–4ft, 6s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on E swell at 5s with light winds out of the E. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Wed, May 20: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on E swell at 8s with gentle ESE breeze. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
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Bethune Beach offers a compelling alternative to the crowded NSB inlet. What makes it unique is its ability to handle larger swells — when the inlet maxes out and starts closing out, Bethune keeps working. The outside sandbar on big days and hurricane swells can produce world-class waves. It needs 3ft+ to start working, but at low tide waves from the outside wedge up on the inside for a nice bowl section.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Bethune is 1-2ft with a 6.6s swell period. Wind is SE at 10mph 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 Bethune is 1-2ft, produced by a 2.3ft NNE primary swell at 6s, a 1ft E secondary swell at 8s, a 0.3ft ENE tertiary swell at 13s, a 1.3ft ESE 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 Bethune is Tuesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 5.35s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Bethune works best with a SE 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 Bethune. 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.
Bethune is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Bethune Beach offers a compelling alternative to the crowded NSB inlet. What makes it unique is its ability to handle larger swells — when the inlet maxes out and starts closing out, Bethune keeps working. The outside sandbar on big days and hurricane swells can produce world-class waves. It needs 3ft+ to start working, but at low tide waves from the outside wedge up on the inside for a nice bowl section.
The prime season at Bethune 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 Bethune include sharks, strong currents, rip currents, jellyfish. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Bethune 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.
