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 - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on E swell at 10s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 17mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SE swell at 8s with gentle W breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 12mph from the S and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with barely a breath of wind. Afternoon breeze fills in to 10mph.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with 7mph SW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 13mph.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with moderate SW wind around 8mph. Afternoon breeze fills in to 14mph.
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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 9.35s swell period. Wind is SW at 6mph and 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 Margate Pier is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.7ft E primary swell at 10s, a 1.6ft SSE secondary swell at 8s, a 0.7ft SW 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 Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 5.75s 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.
