New York
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Fire Island for the cleanest windows.
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1ft waves and poor conditions with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 14mph.
Wed, Jul 1: 2–2ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and very poor conditions with 21mph out of the SSW.
Thu, Jul 2: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 2-3ft and very poor conditions with strong SW wind at 16mph.
Fri, Jul 3: 2–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2ft waves on S swell at 6s with gentle NW breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 15mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor.
Sat, Jul 4: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with gentle W breeze. Afternoon breeze fills in to 16mph.
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 1ft with a 9.15s swell period. Wind is SSW at 11mph 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 Fire Island is 1ft, produced by a 1.6ft SE primary swell at 9s, a 1.5ft 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 Fire Island is Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 5.85s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
