Massachusetts
Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly very poor with 14mph S winds.
Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly very poor with 14mph S winds.
Best window·Friday 6AM–9AM·2-3ft·Fair - Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Harding Beach, Massachusetts. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 1–2ft, 4s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly very poor with strong S wind at 14mph.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Fair - Good. Solid day on tap with 2-3ft waves on ESE swell at 6s and light NW winds.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on E swell at 7s with moderate NNE wind around 12mph. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 19mph from the NNE and dropping conditions to very poor.
Sun, Sep 6: 0–1ft, 8s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with strong N wind at 23mph.
Mon, Sep 7: 0–1ft, 10s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions 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 Harding Beach turns Good.
Check Harding Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Harding Beach is a scenic sandy stretch located in Chatham, Massachusetts, on the elbow of Cape Cod, facing nearly due north into Nantucket Sound. The break here is typically gentle and rolling, as the sound buffers large open-ocean swells, making it best suited for beginners and longboarders looking for mellow, forgiving waves. Fall months bring the most consistent rideable surf as nor'easters push energy into the sound, giving this sheltered spot its best windows of action.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Harding Beach is 1-2ft with a 3.8s swell period. Wind is S at 14mph. 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 Harding Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 2.5ft S wind swell swell at 4s, a 1.2ft ESE secondary 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 Harding Beach is Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 6.3s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Harding Beach works best with a S swell and S 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 Harding Beach. 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.
Harding Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Harding Beach is a scenic sandy stretch located in Chatham, Massachusetts, on the elbow of Cape Cod, facing nearly due north into Nantucket Sound. The break here is typically gentle and rolling, as the sound buffers large open-ocean swells, making it best suited for beginners and longboarders looking for mellow, forgiving waves. Fall months bring the most consistent rideable surf as nor'easters push energy into the sound, giving this sheltered spot its best windows of action.
The prime season at Harding Beach 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 Harding Beach include strong currents, tidal shifts, cold water, rip currents, swimmers in summer. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Harding Beach 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).
