New Jersey
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Crystals, 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: 1–2ft, 10s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on ESE swell at 10s with barely a breath of wind. The S wind kicks in by afternoon — 17mph and poor by then.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on SE swell at 8s with gentle W breeze. Onshore flow builds through the day to 12mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SSE swell at 7s and barely a breath of wind. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Tue, May 19: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Hold off if you can — morning starts out poor with 1-2ft waves. Later in the day looks more promising — 2-3ft and poor.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with 10mph from the SSW. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 17mph.
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Crystals is a quality beach break near the border of Brigantine and Atlantic City, where the coastline begins its southward curve and the SE-facing exposure picks up a wider range of swell angles than the purely east-facing beaches to the north. The sandbars here can produce surprisingly hollow and punchy peaks, especially during fall when SE hurricane swells and NW offshore winds combine for clean, powerful conditions. A local favorite that often has better shape than the more crowded Atlantic City breaks nearby.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Crystals is 2-3ft with a 9.35s swell period. Wind is SW at 7mph and conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Crystals is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.6ft ESE primary swell at 10s, a 1.6ft SSE secondary swell at 9s, a 0.5ft SW wind swell swell at 3s. 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 Crystals is Sunday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 3ft waves, a 6.35s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Crystals works best with a SE swell and NW 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 Crystals. 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.
Crystals is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Crystals is a quality beach break near the border of Brigantine and Atlantic City, where the coastline begins its southward curve and the SE-facing exposure picks up a wider range of swell angles than the purely east-facing beaches to the north. The sandbars here can produce surprisingly hollow and punchy peaks, especially during fall when SE hurricane swells and NW offshore winds combine for clean, powerful conditions. A local favorite that often has better shape than the more crowded Atlantic City breaks nearby.
The prime season at Crystals 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 Crystals include crowds during peak swell, strong longshore currents, shifting sandbars, jellyfish in summer. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Crystals 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.
