New Jersey
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Harvey Cedars, New Jersey. 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. Midday is the call — 2-3ft waves with 18mph S winds and poor conditions.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on S swell at 6s with 7mph WSW winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 13mph from the S and dropping conditions to poor.
Mon, May 18: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SSE swell at 8s and light winds out of the SW. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Tue, May 19: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. Not the most exciting day — 2-3ft and poor - fair conditions with 10mph SW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 18mph.
Wed, May 20: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 2-3ft and mostly poor - fair with 10mph from the SSW. Expect the wind to bump up to around 19mph by PM.
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Harvey Cedars is a classic Long Beach Island beach break offering fun, consistent waves along the east-facing Atlantic shoreline. The sandy bottom provides forgiving conditions and peaky surf that works well for all levels, with fall nor'easters delivering the most powerful and organized swells. The quiet residential atmosphere and uncrowded lineups make it a favorite among LBI regulars.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Harvey Cedars is 2-3ft with a 9.5s swell period. Wind is S at 9mph 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 Harvey Cedars is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.7ft E primary swell at 10s, a 2ft SSE secondary swell at 9s, a 0.9ft SSW wind swell swell at 2s. 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 Harvey Cedars is Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 8.35s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Harvey Cedars 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 Harvey Cedars. 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.
Harvey Cedars is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Harvey Cedars is a classic Long Beach Island beach break offering fun, consistent waves along the east-facing Atlantic shoreline. The sandy bottom provides forgiving conditions and peaky surf that works well for all levels, with fall nor'easters delivering the most powerful and organized swells. The quiet residential atmosphere and uncrowded lineups make it a favorite among LBI regulars.
The prime season at Harvey Cedars 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 Harvey Cedars include cold water in winter, occasional strong currents, crowded during summer holidays. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Harvey Cedars 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.
