New Jersey
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Island Beach State Park, 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. Aim for the middle of the day — 2-3ft on E swell at 10s with strong SSE wind at 19mph.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on S swell at 6s with moderate WSW wind around 10mph. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 16mph from the SSE and dropping conditions to poor.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with light W winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with 8mph SW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 12mph.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with 8mph SW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 15mph.
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Island Beach State Park is a pristine stretch of protected barrier island coastline in New Jersey, offering uncrowded beach breaks along one of the few undeveloped shorelines on the Jersey Shore. The east-facing exposure makes it well-suited to Atlantic groundswells, which can produce punchy, hollow peaks along the sandbar-lined beach, especially during fall hurricane season. The park's protected status limits crowds significantly compared to nearby developed beach towns, making it a treasured escape for surfers seeking quality waves and open lineups.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Island Beach State Park is 2-3ft with a 9.55s 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 Island Beach State Park is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.6ft E primary swell at 10s, a 1.9ft SE secondary swell at 8s, a 0.7ft 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 Island Beach State Park is Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 8.4s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Island Beach State Park 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 Island Beach State Park. 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.
Island Beach State Park is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Island Beach State Park is a pristine stretch of protected barrier island coastline in New Jersey, offering uncrowded beach breaks along one of the few undeveloped shorelines on the Jersey Shore. The east-facing exposure makes it well-suited to Atlantic groundswells, which can produce punchy, hollow peaks along the sandbar-lined beach, especially during fall hurricane season. The park's protected status limits crowds significantly compared to nearby developed beach towns, making it a treasured escape for surfers seeking quality waves and open lineups.
The prime season at Island Beach State Park 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 Island Beach State Park include strong rip currents, shifting sandbars, cold water in winter, jellyfish in summer, limited access points. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Island Beach State Park 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.
