Massachusetts
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Nantucket, Massachusetts. 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. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on E swell at 10s and barely a breath of wind. Onshore flow builds through the day to 16mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Sun, May 17: 4–5ft, 7s period, rated Poor. The sweet spot is around midday — 5-6ft waves, 10mph SW winds, poor - fair conditions. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
Mon, May 18: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on SSW swell at 7s with moderate E wind around 13mph. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with strong SW wind at 15mph. Afternoon breeze fills in to 21mph.
Wed, May 20: 4–5ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 4-5ft and poor with strong WSW wind at 22mph.
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Nantucket, Massachusetts offers surprisingly rideable surf along its south-facing shores, picking up south and southeast swells generated by Atlantic storms and passing hurricanes. The sandy bottom breaks produce punchy, inconsistent waves that reward patient surfers willing to wait for the right conditions, particularly during fall when powerful nor'easters and late-season hurricanes send quality groundswell through. The island's remote location off the coast of Massachusetts means crowds are rarely an issue, giving surfers plenty of room to explore its various beach breaks in relative solitude.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Nantucket is 3-4ft with a 9.5s swell period. Wind is WSW at 10mph 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 Nantucket is 3-4ft, produced by a 3.2ft E primary swell at 10s, a 2.9ft SSE secondary swell at 9s, a 1.1ft WSW wind swell swell at 5s. 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 Nantucket is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 6.3s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Nantucket works best with a S swell and N 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 Nantucket. 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.
Nantucket is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Nantucket, Massachusetts offers surprisingly rideable surf along its south-facing shores, picking up south and southeast swells generated by Atlantic storms and passing hurricanes. The sandy bottom breaks produce punchy, inconsistent waves that reward patient surfers willing to wait for the right conditions, particularly during fall when powerful nor'easters and late-season hurricanes send quality groundswell through. The island's remote location off the coast of Massachusetts means crowds are rarely an issue, giving surfers plenty of room to explore its various beach breaks in relative solitude.
The prime season at Nantucket 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 Nantucket include strong currents, rip currents, cold water, fog, boat traffic, remote location. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Nantucket 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.
