New York
Aim for the middle of the day — 2-3ft on SE swell at 6s with moderate SW wind around 12mph.
Aim for the middle of the day — 2-3ft on SE swell at 6s with moderate SW wind around 12mph.
Best window·Sunday 2PM–5PM·2-3ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Main Beach, New York. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 2–3+ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Midday is the call — 2-3+ft waves with 13mph out of the SW and poor - fair conditions. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 1-2ft with 9mph NW winds. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Patience pays off today — morning is poor with 1-2ft. Winds back off through the day and conditions clean up to poor by PM.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Poor. 2-3ft waves to start the day on ENE swell at 5s.
Mon, Sep 7: 1–2ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on E swell at 10s and moderate NNW wind around 11mph. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor - Fair today — get one free email when Main Beach turns Good.
Check Main Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Main Beach in East Hampton, New York is a classic Long Island beach break sitting along the South Fork's Atlantic-facing shoreline, offering fun and forgiving waves that attract surfers of all skill levels. Facing northwest at 320°, the break benefits most from south to southeast swells generated by Atlantic storms, with fall hurricane season delivering the most consistent and powerful surf. The wide sandy beach and relatively mellow wave shape make it a welcoming spot for beginners while still offering enjoyable rides for more experienced surfers on the right swell.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Main Beach is 2-3ft with a 6.3s swell period. Wind is SW at 13mph. 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 Main Beach is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.5ft SE wind swell swell at 6s, a 1.6ft SE secondary 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 Main Beach is Sunday from 2 PM to 5 PM with 2ft waves, a 7.2s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Main Beach works best with a SSE swell and NW 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 Main 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.
Main Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Main Beach in East Hampton, New York is a classic Long Island beach break sitting along the South Fork's Atlantic-facing shoreline, offering fun and forgiving waves that attract surfers of all skill levels. Facing northwest at 320°, the break benefits most from south to southeast swells generated by Atlantic storms, with fall hurricane season delivering the most consistent and powerful surf. The wide sandy beach and relatively mellow wave shape make it a welcoming spot for beginners while still offering enjoyable rides for more experienced surfers on the right swell.
The prime season at Main 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 Main Beach include strong currents, rip currents, crowds during summer, lifeguard restrictions, cold water. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Main 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. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
