Florida - East Coast
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Ponte Vedra, 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 - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on ENE swell at 6s with barely a breath of wind. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 13mph from the ESE and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Sun, May 17: 0–1ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with moderate SSE wind around 9mph. Expect the wind to bump up to around 13mph by PM.
Mon, May 18: flat–flatft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — Flat and mostly very poor with light SE winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 9mph by PM.
Tue, May 19: 0–1ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with gentle ESE breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 9mph.
Wed, May 20: 0–1ft, 8s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with glassy conditions. Afternoon breeze fills in to 11mph.
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Ponte Vedra is unique in the Jacksonville area thanks to a coquina rock shelf beneath the sand that creates reef-like characteristics, especially at low tide. The break shifts every few years between an outside reef break and an inside beach break depending on storms. When a solid NE groundswell hits the exposed shelf, it produces fast walls and defined peaks — the only true reef component in the immediate Jax area.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Ponte Vedra is 2-3+ft with a 6.6s swell period. Wind is E at 6mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Ponte Vedra is 2-3+ft, produced by a 1ft E primary swell at 8s, a 0.2ft ENE secondary swell at 13s, a 2.4ft ENE wind swell swell at 6s. 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 Ponte Vedra is Saturday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 3ft waves, a 6.6s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Ponte Vedra works best with a NE 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 Ponte Vedra. 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.
Ponte Vedra is a reef with a rock bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Ponte Vedra is unique in the Jacksonville area thanks to a coquina rock shelf beneath the sand that creates reef-like characteristics, especially at low tide. The break shifts every few years between an outside reef break and an inside beach break depending on storms. When a solid NE groundswell hits the exposed shelf, it produces fast walls and defined peaks — the only true reef component in the immediate Jax area.
The prime season at Ponte Vedra 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 Ponte Vedra include coquina rock shelf, sharks, rip currents, jet skis. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Ponte Vedra 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.
