Florida - East Coast
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Matanzas Inlet, Florida - East Coast. 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, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on NE swell at 6s and glassy conditions. The ESE wind kicks in by afternoon — 15mph and poor by then.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on E swell at 9s and moderate SSE wind around 8mph. Onshore flow builds through the day to 15mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Mon, May 18: 3–4ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on E swell at 8s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the E and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Tue, May 19: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on E swell at 9s with gentle E breeze. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Wed, May 20: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on E swell at 6s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the E and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
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Matanzas Inlet is where the Matanzas River meets the Atlantic with no jetties to stabilize the constantly shifting sandbars. Both the north and south sides break, with the best peak often in the middle of the inlet mouth. Waves can peel for up to 100 meters when conditions align. Check conditions from the A1A bridge before paddling out — strong tidal currents and heavy shark presence are ever-present.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Matanzas Inlet is 2-3ft with a 6.6s swell period. Wind is E at 8mph 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 Matanzas Inlet is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.7ft NE primary swell at 6s, a 1ft ESE secondary swell at 8s, a 0.3ft ENE tertiary swell at 13s. 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 Matanzas Inlet is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 5.05s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Matanzas Inlet works best with a NE swell and SW 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 Matanzas Inlet. 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.
Matanzas Inlet is a rivermouth with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Matanzas Inlet is where the Matanzas River meets the Atlantic with no jetties to stabilize the constantly shifting sandbars. Both the north and south sides break, with the best peak often in the middle of the inlet mouth. Waves can peel for up to 100 meters when conditions align. Check conditions from the A1A bridge before paddling out — strong tidal currents and heavy shark presence are ever-present.
The prime season at Matanzas Inlet 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 Matanzas Inlet include sharks, strong tidal currents, shifting sandbars, boat traffic. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Matanzas Inlet 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.
