New Jersey
Skip the dawn patrol — 2-3ft and poor early on.
Skip the dawn patrol — 2-3ft and poor early on.
Best window·Monday 9AM–12PM·2-3+ft·Fair - Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Ocean City, NJ, New Jersey. 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, 6s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on E swell at 6s and moderate WSW wind around 10mph. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on ESE swell at 7s with 10mph W winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on N swell at 3s with strong NNW wind at 13mph. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Sun, Sep 6: 3–4ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Skip the dawn patrol — 1-2ft and poor early on. Size picks up through the day, hitting 2-3+ft with poor conditions by late afternoon.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3+ft, 10s period, rated Fair - Good. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3+ft waves on E swell at 8s and 8mph NNW winds. The SSE wind kicks in by afternoon — 12mph and very poor by then.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor - Fair today — get one free email when Ocean City, NJ turns Good.
Check Ocean City, NJ from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Ocean City is one of southern New Jersey's most consistent surf zones, with jetties at nearly every block creating well-shaped sandbars that produce quality peaks up and down the island. The SE-facing exposure picks up a wide swell window, and the groyne structures focus wave energy into defined takeoff zones. Fall hurricane swells and nor'easters deliver the best conditions, with NW offshore winds grooming the faces clean. A family-friendly town with strong surf culture.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Ocean City, NJ is 2-3ft with a 5.9s swell period. Wind is WSW at 10mph. 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, NJ is 2-3ft, produced by a 2ft E wind swell swell at 6s, a 1.6ft SE secondary swell at 9s, a 1ft SW 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 Ocean City, NJ is Monday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 3ft waves, a 8.2s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Ocean City, NJ works best with a SE swell and NW 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, NJ. 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, NJ is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Ocean City is one of southern New Jersey's most consistent surf zones, with jetties at nearly every block creating well-shaped sandbars that produce quality peaks up and down the island. The SE-facing exposure picks up a wide swell window, and the groyne structures focus wave energy into defined takeoff zones. Fall hurricane swells and nor'easters deliver the best conditions, with NW offshore winds grooming the faces clean. A family-friendly town with strong surf culture.
The prime season at Ocean City, NJ 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, NJ include strong currents, crowded summer lineups, rip currents, jellyfish, inexperienced swimmers in the water. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Ocean City, NJ 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).
