New York
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at North Bar, New York. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sat, May 16: 3–4ft, 9s period, rated Fair. Midday is the call — 3-4ft waves with moderate SSW wind around 12mph and fair conditions. Don't wait too long — the wind comes back up after lunch.
Sun, May 17: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 2-3ft with gentle SW breeze. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down. Afternoon wind picks back up so try to get wet before 2pm.
Mon, May 18: 0–1ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly poor with 16mph E winds.
Tue, May 19: 0–1ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with 12mph SW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 21mph.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with 18mph out of the SW. Expect the wind to bump up to around 24mph by PM.
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North Bar is a rare east-facing reef break on Montauk's north side toward Block Island Sound, picking up east swells that the south-facing spots miss entirely. This makes it a valuable option on different swell patterns than Ditch Plains or Turtles. Best season is spring when east swells are more common, though clean surfable conditions are rare — rewarding patience with quality right-hand walls over the reef.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at North Bar is 3-4ft with a 9.05s swell period. Wind is SSW at 9mph 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 North Bar is 3-4ft, produced by a 3.2ft SE primary swell at 9s. 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 North Bar is Saturday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 4ft waves, a 9.05s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
North Bar works best with a E 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 North Bar. 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.
North Bar is a reef with a rock bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. North Bar is a rare east-facing reef break on Montauk's north side toward Block Island Sound, picking up east swells that the south-facing spots miss entirely. This makes it a valuable option on different swell patterns than Ditch Plains or Turtles. Best season is spring when east swells are more common, though clean surfable conditions are rare — rewarding patience with quality right-hand walls over the reef.
The prime season at North Bar is spring, 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 North Bar include rocks, rip currents, jellyfish, inconsistent — fickle spot. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our North Bar 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.
