Florida - East Coast
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Ponce Inlet, Florida - East Coast. 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, 7s period, rated Poor. The sweet spot is around midday — 2-3ft waves, 16mph out of the ESE, poor conditions.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 6s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on E swell at 8s with 8mph SE winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 15mph from the E and dropping conditions to poor.
Mon, May 18: 3–4ft, 6s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on E swell at 8s and gentle ESE breeze. The E wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor - fair by then.
Tue, May 19: 3–4ft, 6s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 4-5ft waves on E swell at 6s and gentle E breeze. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Wed, May 20: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 4-5ft on E swell at 5s with gentle ESE breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the E and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
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Ponce Inlet's north side features a legitimate right-hand wave peeling off the north jetty of the Ponce de Leon Inlet. It provides longer rides than the NSB side and can handle huge swells. Works at all tides but best at high tide when water gets over the outer bar. One of Florida's most consistently cranking spots, but expect aggressive localism and tense lineups.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Ponce Inlet is 2-3ft with a 6.5s swell period. Wind is ESE 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 Ponce Inlet is 2-3ft, produced by a 2ft NE primary swell at 6s, a 0.3ft ENE secondary swell at 12s, a 2.4ft ESE wind swell swell at 4s. 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 Ponce Inlet is Tuesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 5.65s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Ponce Inlet works best with a SE 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 Ponce Inlet. 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.
Ponce Inlet is a rivermouth with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Ponce Inlet's north side features a legitimate right-hand wave peeling off the north jetty of the Ponce de Leon Inlet. It provides longer rides than the NSB side and can handle huge swells. Works at all tides but best at high tide when water gets over the outer bar. One of Florida's most consistently cranking spots, but expect aggressive localism and tense lineups.
The prime season at Ponce Inlet 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 Ponce Inlet include localism, strong currents, jetty rocks, sharks, boat traffic. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Ponce Inlet 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.
