New Jersey
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Crystals for the cleanest windows.
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 1–1ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1ft and poor conditions with calm winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 14mph.
Wed, Jul 1: 1–1ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1ft and poor with 11mph SSW winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 20mph by PM.
Thu, Jul 2: 1–1ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1ft and poor with 11mph from the SSW. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 15mph.
Fri, Jul 3: 1–1ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 1ft and very poor with light WSW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 13mph.
Sat, Jul 4: 1–1ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 1ft and very poor with moderate W wind around 7mph. Afternoon breeze fills in to 17mph.
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 1ft with a 9.05s swell period. Wind is S at 9mph 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 Crystals is 1ft, produced by a 1.8ft ESE primary swell at 9s, a 0.8ft S wind swell swell at 5s. 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 Wednesday from 5 PM to 8 PM with 1ft waves, a 4.8s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
