New York
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Jones Beach State Park, New York. 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 - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SE swell at 9s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 18mph from the S and dropping conditions to poor.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on S swell at 6s with light WSW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 13mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on S swell at 8s with moderate ENE wind around 7mph. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Tue, May 19: 0–1ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with light SW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 13mph.
Wed, May 20: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 2-3ft waves and poor - fair conditions with 9mph from the SW. Afternoon breeze fills in to 15mph.
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Jones Beach State Park on Long Island's South Shore in New York is a classic East Coast beach break that picks up South Atlantic swells and occasional hurricane pulses rolling up the coastline. The waves here are typically soft and crumbly, making it a popular learning ground, though fall nor'easters can push solid overhead surf along the sandbars. Its proximity to New York City means the lineup fills up fast on good days, but the wide stretch of beach spreads crowds out reasonably well.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Jones Beach State Park is 2-3ft with a 9.25s swell period. Wind is SSW at 5mph 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 Jones Beach State Park is 2-3ft, produced by a 3.6ft SE primary 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 Jones Beach State Park is Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 6s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Jones Beach State Park works best with a S swell and N 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 Jones 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.
Jones Beach State Park is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Jones Beach State Park on Long Island's South Shore in New York is a classic East Coast beach break that picks up South Atlantic swells and occasional hurricane pulses rolling up the coastline. The waves here are typically soft and crumbly, making it a popular learning ground, though fall nor'easters can push solid overhead surf along the sandbars. Its proximity to New York City means the lineup fills up fast on good days, but the wide stretch of beach spreads crowds out reasonably well.
The prime season at Jones 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 Jones Beach State Park include crowds, strong rip currents, shifting sandbars, cold water in winter, jellyfish in summer, heavy beach traffic. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Jones 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.
