Maryland
Skip the dawn patrol — 2-3ft and poor - fair early on.
Skip the dawn patrol — 2-3ft and poor - fair early on.
Best window·Monday 1PM–4PM·3-4ft·Fair
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on ENE swell at 6s with 12mph SW winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with 9mph from the SW.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on S swell at 6s with 17mph out of the NNW. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Sun, Sep 6: 3–4ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on NE swell at 4s with 16mph NNE winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Mon, Sep 7: 3–4ft, 10s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3+ft waves on ENE swell at 7s and light winds out of the NNE. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
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Check Ocean City, MD from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 8.7s swell period. Wind is SSW at 10mph. Conditions are rated 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 1.7ft SE primary swell at 9s, a 1.6ft ENE wind swell swell at 6s, a 1.2ft 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 Monday from 1 PM to 4 PM with 3ft waves, a 8.2s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. 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. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
