Georgia
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.
Sat, May 16: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on ESE swell at 7s with barely a breath of wind. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 9mph from the E and dropping conditions to poor.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 2-3ft waves and poor - fair conditions with 8mph from the SSE. Afternoon breeze fills in to 12mph.
Mon, May 18: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on SE swell at 5s with light SE winds. The E wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor - fair by then.
Tue, May 19: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on ESE swell at 10s with light winds out of the E. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on ESE swell at 8s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 12mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
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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 2-3ft with a 6.85s swell period. Wind is E 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 Cumberland Island is 2-3ft, produced by a 0.7ft ESE primary swell at 7s, a 0.6ft ESE secondary swell at 9s, a 1.8ft E wind swell swell at 6s. 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 Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 4.7s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
