New Jersey
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.
Sat, May 16: 2–3ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on E swell at 10s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 17mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Sun, May 17: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on SE swell at 8s with light winds out of the W. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 13mph from the S and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with barely a breath of wind. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. Aim for the middle of the day — 2-3ft on SE swell at 9s with 10mph SW winds. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Expect 1-2ft waves early on SE swell at 8s. Wind increases to 14mph from the SSW.
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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 9.35s swell period. Wind is SW at 6mph 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, NJ is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.7ft E primary swell at 10s, a 1.6ft SSE secondary swell at 8s, a 0.7ft SW 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, NJ is Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 5.75s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
