Florida - East Coast
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Cocoa Beach, 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, 5s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on NE swell at 7s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 17mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on ENE swell at 12s with 12mph ESE winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Mon, May 18: 3–4ft, 6s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 3-4ft and poor - fair with 7mph ESE winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 12mph by PM.
Tue, May 19: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Poor - Fair. Not the most exciting day — 3-4ft and poor - fair conditions with 7mph E winds.
Wed, May 20: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on E swell at 5s and gentle ESE breeze. The E wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor - fair by then.
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The self-proclaimed "Surf Capital of the East Coast," Cocoa Beach Pier is the most iconic surf spot in Brevard County. The pier provides the only wind shelter between Sebastian Inlet and Jetty Park, making it a magnet when onshore winds blow out open beach breaks. Waves are typically long, crumbly lines best suited for longboarding — getting barreled here is rare. Rich surf history dating to the 1960s space race era.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Cocoa Beach is 2-3ft with a 4.4s 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 Cocoa Beach is 2-3ft, produced by a 1ft NE primary swell at 7s, a 0.3ft ENE secondary swell at 13s, a 0.2ft ENE tertiary swell at 11s, a 3.1ft 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 Cocoa Beach is Tuesday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 3ft waves, a 5.5s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Cocoa Beach 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 Cocoa Beach. 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.
Cocoa Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. The self-proclaimed "Surf Capital of the East Coast," Cocoa Beach Pier is the most iconic surf spot in Brevard County. The pier provides the only wind shelter between Sebastian Inlet and Jetty Park, making it a magnet when onshore winds blow out open beach breaks. Waves are typically long, crumbly lines best suited for longboarding — getting barreled here is rare. Rich surf history dating to the 1960s space race era.
The prime season at Cocoa Beach is winter, 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 Cocoa Beach include heavy crowds, pier pilings, occasional tourists, warm water marine life. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Cocoa Beach 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.
