New York
The sweet spot is around midday — 2-3ft waves, 16mph out of the WSW, very poor conditions.
The sweet spot is around midday — 2-3ft waves, 16mph out of the WSW, very poor conditions.
Best window·Sunday 6AM–9AM·2-3ft·Fair
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Midday is the call — 2-3ft waves with 16mph WSW winds and poor conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with gentle W breeze.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on ESE swell at 8s with 13mph out of the N. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on ENE swell at 6s with 16mph NNE winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Mon, Sep 7: 1–2ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor - fair with 11mph NNW winds.
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 Fire Island turns Good.
Check Fire Island from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 6.2s swell period. Wind is SW at 17mph. 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 Fire Island is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.2ft ESE wind swell swell at 6s, a 1.5ft SE secondary swell at 9s, a 1.3ft SSW 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 Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 6s 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. 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).
