Maryland
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Ocean City, MD, Maryland. 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, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on E swell at 10s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 17mph from the S and dropping conditions to poor.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Fair - Good. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on SE swell at 7s and 8mph WSW winds. The S wind kicks in by afternoon — 13mph and poor - fair by then.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on SE swell at 7s with moderate SW wind around 7mph. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the S and dropping conditions to poor.
Tue, May 19: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on ESE swell at 9s with 10mph from the SW. Onshore flow builds through the day to 16mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Wed, May 20: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. Midday is the call — 2-3ft waves with strong SSW wind at 13mph and fair conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning. Don't wait too long — the wind comes back up after lunch.
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Ocean City offers accessible beach breaks along Maryland's Atlantic coast, featuring sandy bottom waves that are perfect for learners and intermediate surfers. The spot benefits from autumn swells generated by Atlantic storms and hurricanes, with consistent peaks forming along the developed beachfront. The town's abundant amenities, shallow wave faces, and forgiving sandy bottom make this a welcoming destination for surf travelers exploring the Mid-Atlantic region.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Ocean City, MD is 2-3ft with a 9.4s swell period. Wind is S at 11mph 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 Ocean City, MD is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.4ft E primary swell at 9s, a 1.2ft SSE secondary swell at 8s, a 0.7ft SE tertiary swell at 10s, a 0.8ft SSW wind swell swell at 3s. 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 Ocean City, MD is Sunday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 4ft waves, a 6.4s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Ocean City, MD works best with a E swell and W 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 Ocean City, MD. 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.
Ocean City, MD is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Ocean City offers accessible beach breaks along Maryland's Atlantic coast, featuring sandy bottom waves that are perfect for learners and intermediate surfers. The spot benefits from autumn swells generated by Atlantic storms and hurricanes, with consistent peaks forming along the developed beachfront. The town's abundant amenities, shallow wave faces, and forgiving sandy bottom make this a welcoming destination for surf travelers exploring the Mid-Atlantic region.
The prime season at Ocean City, MD 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 Ocean City, MD include crowded beach during summer months, strong rip currents, occasional pier pilings near breaks, seasonal water temperature extremes. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Ocean City, MD 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.
