New Jersey
A slow one — 2-3ft waves and poor conditions with 11mph from the SW.
A slow one — 2-3ft waves and poor conditions with 11mph from the SW.
Best window·Monday 8AM–11AM·3-4ft·Good
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 2-3ft with moderate SW wind around 11mph. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Aim for the middle of the day — 1-2ft on SE swell at 8s with 9mph from the NW. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on N swell at 4s and moderate NNW wind around 12mph. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Sun, Sep 6: 3–4ft, 6s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on NE swell at 4s with 13mph NNE winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Mon, Sep 7: 3–4ft, 10s period, rated Good. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on ENE swell at 8s with 8mph from the NNW. Onshore flow builds through the day to 12mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor today — get one free email when Margate Pier turns Good.
Check Margate Pier from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 5.9s swell period. Wind is SSW at 10mph. 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 2-3ft, produced by a 2.3ft E wind swell swell at 6s, a 1.8ft SE secondary swell at 9s, a 1.1ft SSW 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 Monday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 3ft waves, a 8.1s swell period, and conditions rated Good. 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. 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).
