Massachusetts
A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with light NE winds.
A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with light NE winds.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Crane Beach for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Crane Beach, Massachusetts. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with gentle NE breeze.
Fri, Sep 4: 0–1ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with light NW winds.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with 13mph NNE winds.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and very poor conditions with 15mph out of the NNE.
Mon, Sep 7: 1–2ft, 10s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on ENE swell at 10s with moderate WNW wind around 9mph. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor today — get one free email when Crane Beach turns Good.
Check Crane Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Crane Beach is a classic New England beach break located on Cape Ann's northeastern shore, offering consistent waves driven by Atlantic swells and nor'easters. The sandy bottom provides forgiving conditions suitable for developing surfers, with waves typically ranging from 2-6 feet during optimal conditions. This scenic break benefits from reliable fall swells while maintaining enough summer activity to make it a year-round destination for the regional surf community.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Crane Beach is 1-2ft with a 4.2s swell period. Wind is NE at 5mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Crane Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 2ft ESE wind swell swell at 4s, a 1.4ft ESE secondary 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 Crane Beach is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 1ft waves, a 9.7s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Crane Beach works best with a NE swell and SW 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 Crane 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.
Crane Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Crane Beach is a classic New England beach break located on Cape Ann's northeastern shore, offering consistent waves driven by Atlantic swells and nor'easters. The sandy bottom provides forgiving conditions suitable for developing surfers, with waves typically ranging from 2-6 feet during optimal conditions. This scenic break benefits from reliable fall swells while maintaining enough summer activity to make it a year-round destination for the regional surf community.
The prime season at Crane Beach 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 Crane Beach include cold water temperatures, rip currents, rocks at beach ends. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Crane 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. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
