Massachusetts
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Nantucket for the cleanest windows.
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 1–2ft, 10s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and very poor conditions with calm winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 11mph.
Wed, Jul 1: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and very poor conditions with strong S wind at 18mph.
Thu, Jul 2: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly very poor with 23mph SW winds.
Fri, Jul 3: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with 13mph out of the W. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 19mph.
Sat, Jul 4: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with 8mph from the WNW. Afternoon breeze fills in to 19mph.
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 1ft with a 6s 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 Nantucket is 1ft, produced by a 1.3ft S primary swell at 6s, a 1.1ft SE secondary swell at 10s, a 0.5ft 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 Nantucket is Tuesday from 11 AM to 2 PM with 1ft waves, a 6s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
