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. Aim for the middle of the day — 3-4ft on E swell at 7s with 11mph from the E. Sea breeze fills back in by mid-afternoon so get on it early.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on E swell at 8s with 9mph SSE winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 13mph from the ESE and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Mon, May 18: 3–4ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on ESE swell at 7s with gentle SE breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the E and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Tue, May 19: 3–4ft, 6s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on E swell at 10s with gentle ESE breeze. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Wed, May 20: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on ESE swell at 5s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the E and dropping conditions 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 3-4ft with a 6.85s 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 3-4ft, produced by a 1.2ft ENE primary swell at 6s, a 1.1ft ESE secondary swell at 8s, a 0.3ft E tertiary swell at 12s, a 2.1ft E wind swell swell at 4s. 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 Wednesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 5.25s 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.
