New Jersey
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Margate Pier for the cleanest windows.
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 1–1ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1ft and mostly poor with barely a breath of wind. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 14mph.
Wed, Jul 1: 1–1ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 1ft and poor with moderate SSW wind around 10mph. Afternoon breeze fills in to 19mph.
Thu, Jul 2: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on ESE swell at 9s and 9mph from the SSW. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Fri, Jul 3: 1–1ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1ft and poor conditions with light winds out of the W.
Sat, Jul 4: 1–1ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1ft and poor conditions with light W winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 13mph.
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 1ft with a 8.9s swell period. Wind is S at 10mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Margate Pier is 1ft, produced by a 1.6ft ESE primary swell at 6s, a 1.2ft ESE secondary swell at 9s, a 0.6ft S wind swell swell at 2s. 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 Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 5.2s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
