New Jersey
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Margate Pier, 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 14mph out of the S. Don't wait too long — the wind comes back up after lunch.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on S swell at 7s and light W winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 12mph from the S and dropping conditions to poor.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with barely a breath of wind. Expect the wind to bump up to around 10mph by PM.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with 7mph from the SW. Afternoon breeze fills in to 13mph.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with 8mph from the SW. Expect the wind to bump up to around 14mph by PM.
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Margate Pier is a beach break on Absecon Island south of Atlantic City, where the pier structure helps organize sandbars into surprisingly punchy peaks. The SE-facing exposure picks up swells from tropical systems and nor'easters, with the pier creating defined takeoff zones on either side. Fall is prime time when hurricane-season groundswells push through and NW offshore winds clean up the surf.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Margate Pier is 2-3ft with a 9.5s swell period. Wind is S 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 Margate Pier is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.5ft E primary swell at 10s, a 1.6ft SSE secondary swell at 9s, a 1ft SSW wind swell swell at 3s. 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 Margate Pier is Saturday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 3ft waves, a 9.5s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Margate Pier works best with a SE 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 Margate Pier. 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.
Margate Pier is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Margate Pier is a beach break on Absecon Island south of Atlantic City, where the pier structure helps organize sandbars into surprisingly punchy peaks. The SE-facing exposure picks up swells from tropical systems and nor'easters, with the pier creating defined takeoff zones on either side. Fall is prime time when hurricane-season groundswells push through and NW offshore winds clean up the surf.
The prime season at Margate Pier 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 Margate Pier include pier pilings, strong currents near structure, rip currents, crowds on summer weekends, seasonal jellyfish. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Margate Pier 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.
