Georgia
A slow one — 1-2ft waves and very poor conditions with 8mph E winds.
A slow one — 1-2ft waves and very poor conditions with 8mph E winds.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Cumberland Island for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Cumberland Island, Georgia. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and very poor conditions with 8mph from the E.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. The sweet spot is around midday — 2-3ft waves, 11mph from the SSE, poor conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on SE swell at 5s with 7mph SW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 18mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Sun, Sep 6: 0–1ft, 4s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with moderate W wind around 9mph.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with light winds out of the NNE. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 17mph.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Very Poor today — get one free email when Cumberland Island turns Good.
Check Cumberland Island from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Cumberland Island offers mellow, user-friendly beach breaks along Georgia's remote barrier island coastline. The WNW-facing shores catch easterly Atlantic swells best during fall and winter months, producing rolling waves ideal for learning and cruising. This uncrowded gem attracts fewer surfers than Florida breaks, making it perfect for those seeking peaceful sessions with natural surroundings.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Cumberland Island is 1-2ft with a 9.1s swell period. Wind is E at 8mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Cumberland Island is 1-2ft, produced by a 2.2ft E primary 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 Cumberland Island is Tuesday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 2ft waves, a 6.7s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Cumberland Island works best with a E 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 Cumberland 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.
Cumberland Island is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Cumberland Island offers mellow, user-friendly beach breaks along Georgia's remote barrier island coastline. The WNW-facing shores catch easterly Atlantic swells best during fall and winter months, producing rolling waves ideal for learning and cruising. This uncrowded gem attracts fewer surfers than Florida breaks, making it perfect for those seeking peaceful sessions with natural surroundings.
The prime season at Cumberland 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 Cumberland Island include sea turtles (protected species), strong rip currents, occasional sharks, soft sand paddling. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Cumberland 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. 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).
