New Jersey
Afternoon is the play — morning is only very poor at 2-3ft.
Afternoon is the play — morning is only very poor at 2-3ft.
Best window·Monday 6AM–9AM·2-3+ft·Fair - Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Poverty Beach, 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 - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on E swell at 6s with moderate SSW wind around 7mph. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Morning kicks off with 1-2ft on ENE swell at 5s.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on NNW swell at 3s and 13mph N winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Sun, Sep 6: 3–4ft, 6s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on NE swell at 4s with strong NNE wind at 14mph. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3+ft, 10s period, rated Fair - Good. Early morning is your best window — 2-3+ft waves on E swell at 8s with light winds out of the N. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Very Poor today — get one free email when Poverty Beach turns Good.
Check Poverty Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Poverty Beach sits near the southern tip of Cape May where the coastline curves to face south, picking up S and SSE swells that the rest of the Jersey Shore misses. The sandy bottom produces mellow, rolling waves that are ideal for beginners and those looking for uncrowded conditions away from the tourist-heavy Cape May beaches. North winds blow offshore here, making it a good option when NW winds are messing up the east-facing beaches further north.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Poverty Beach is 2-3ft with a 5.5s swell period. Wind is SSW at 7mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Poverty Beach is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.8ft E wind swell swell at 6s, a 1.5ft SE secondary swell at 9s, a 0.8ft 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 Poverty Beach is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 7.7s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Poverty Beach works best with a S swell and N 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 Poverty Beach. 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.
Poverty Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Poverty Beach sits near the southern tip of Cape May where the coastline curves to face south, picking up S and SSE swells that the rest of the Jersey Shore misses. The sandy bottom produces mellow, rolling waves that are ideal for beginners and those looking for uncrowded conditions away from the tourist-heavy Cape May beaches. North winds blow offshore here, making it a good option when NW winds are messing up the east-facing beaches further north.
The prime season at Poverty Beach 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 Poverty Beach include shorebreak, occasional rips, beach erosion. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Poverty Beach 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).
