New York
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Fire Island, New York. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sat, May 16: 2–3ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SE swell at 9s with barely a breath of wind. The SSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 16mph and poor by then.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on S swell at 6s with light winds out of the WSW. The SSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor - fair by then.
Mon, May 18: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on S swell at 8s with 10mph from the ENE. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with 10mph from the SW. Expect the wind to bump up to around 14mph by PM.
Wed, May 20: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SE swell at 13s with moderate SW wind around 12mph. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
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Fire Island is a classic New York barrier island beach break sitting along the Atlantic-facing south shore of Long Island, offering punchy sandbars that light up with swells generated by Atlantic storms and hurricanes tracking up the East Coast. The spot faces roughly south-southeast, making it highly receptive to groundswells from the S and SE, with fall delivering the most consistent and powerful surf as tropical and nor'easter systems push quality waves into the shore. The remote, car-free nature of much of Fire Island keeps crowds manageable compared to other New York surf destinations, giving surfers a more relaxed vibe amid the striking barrier island scenery.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Fire Island is 2-3ft with a 9.35s swell period. Wind is SW at 5mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Fire Island is 2-3ft, produced by a 3.1ft ESE primary swell at 10s, a 1.8ft SSE secondary swell at 8s. 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 Fire Island is Sunday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 3ft waves, a 6.4s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Fire Island works best with a SSE swell and NNW 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 Fire 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.
Fire Island is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Fire Island is a classic New York barrier island beach break sitting along the Atlantic-facing south shore of Long Island, offering punchy sandbars that light up with swells generated by Atlantic storms and hurricanes tracking up the East Coast. The spot faces roughly south-southeast, making it highly receptive to groundswells from the S and SE, with fall delivering the most consistent and powerful surf as tropical and nor'easter systems push quality waves into the shore. The remote, car-free nature of much of Fire Island keeps crowds manageable compared to other New York surf destinations, giving surfers a more relaxed vibe amid the striking barrier island scenery.
The prime season at Fire 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 Fire Island include strong rip currents, shifting sandbars, cold water in fall and winter, jellyfish in summer, ferry traffic in navigation channels, limited access points. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Fire 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.
