Georgia
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Blackbeard Island, Georgia. 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 Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on ESE swell at 7s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Sun, May 17: 4–5ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 4-5ft on SE swell at 5s with 7mph from the SSE. Onshore flow builds through the day to 12mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Mon, May 18: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on SE swell at 4s with light winds out of the SE. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the ESE and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Tue, May 19: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on ESE swell at 8s with gentle E breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 9mph from the E and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Wed, May 20: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on ESE swell at 8s with barely a breath of wind. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the ESE and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
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Blackbeard Island offers mellow beach breaks along Georgia's barrier island coastline, with the WNW-facing exposure capturing Atlantic swell and tropical storm systems effectively during autumn months. The sandy bottom provides a forgiving learning environment with consistent, rolling waves ideal for developing technique in a relatively uncrowded setting. As a protected island area with limited access, this spot maintains its isolation and pristine character while offering reliable waves when subtropical systems move up the East Coast.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Blackbeard Island is 2-3ft with a 6.95s swell period. Wind is NE at 3mph 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 Blackbeard Island is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.4ft ESE wind swell swell at 7s. 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 Blackbeard Island is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 8.5s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Blackbeard Island works best with a ESE swell and WNW 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 Blackbeard Island. 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.
Blackbeard Island is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Blackbeard Island offers mellow beach breaks along Georgia's barrier island coastline, with the WNW-facing exposure capturing Atlantic swell and tropical storm systems effectively during autumn months. The sandy bottom provides a forgiving learning environment with consistent, rolling waves ideal for developing technique in a relatively uncrowded setting. As a protected island area with limited access, this spot maintains its isolation and pristine character while offering reliable waves when subtropical systems move up the East Coast.
The prime season at Blackbeard Island 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 Blackbeard Island include marsh terrain, tidal currents, limited access, shallow areas at low tide. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Blackbeard Island 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.
