Florida - East Coast
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Jacksonville Beach, Florida - East Coast. 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, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on ENE swell at 6s with barely a breath of wind. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 14mph from the ESE and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on E swell at 9s with moderate SSE wind around 9mph. The ESE wind kicks in by afternoon — 13mph and poor - fair by then.
Mon, May 18: 3–4ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on ESE swell at 7s with light winds out of the SE. The E wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor - fair by then.
Tue, May 19: 3–4ft, 6s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on E swell at 8s with light ESE winds. The E wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor - fair by then.
Wed, May 20: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on ESE swell at 6s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 11mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
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Jacksonville Beach Pier is the most popular and iconic surf spot in the Jax area, serving as the region's designated high-tide break (complementing the low-tide Poles). Various peaks off the pier spread the crowd, producing both lefts and rights. The south side favors longer lefts during N/NE swells. Easily accessible with nearby parking, restaurants, and shops.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Jacksonville Beach is 2-3ft with a 6.7s swell period. Wind is ENE at 7mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Jacksonville Beach is 2-3ft, produced by a 0.8ft ESE primary swell at 7s, a 0.7ft E secondary swell at 9s, a 0.2ft E tertiary swell at 13s, a 2.4ft ENE wind swell swell at 6s. 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 Jacksonville Beach is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 4.5s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Jacksonville Beach works best with a NE 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 Jacksonville 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.
Jacksonville Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Jacksonville Beach Pier is the most popular and iconic surf spot in the Jax area, serving as the region's designated high-tide break (complementing the low-tide Poles). Various peaks off the pier spread the crowd, producing both lefts and rights. The south side favors longer lefts during N/NE swells. Easily accessible with nearby parking, restaurants, and shops.
The prime season at Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville Beach include rip currents, jellyfish, sharks, crowds near pier, inconsistent sandbars. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Jacksonville 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
