Massachusetts
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Salisbury, Massachusetts. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sat, May 16: 5–6ft, 10s period, rated Fair - Good. Dawn patrol is the move — 6-7ft on E swell at 10s with barely a breath of wind. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 12mph from the SW and dropping conditions to fair - good.
Sun, May 17: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on ESE swell at 9s with 7mph from the SW. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 17mph and very poor by then.
Mon, May 18: 0–1ft, 8s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with light ESE winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 11mph by PM.
Tue, May 19: 0–1ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with 8mph SW winds.
Wed, May 20: 0–1ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with moderate WSW wind around 9mph. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 15mph.
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Salisbury offers accessible beach breaks along Massachusetts's North Shore, with consistent sandbars that peel nicely during Eastern swells. The westward-facing beach catches Atlantic energy well during fall and winter months, providing fun, manageable waves perfect for building skills. This is a classic New England beach break that works best at mid to high tide when the sandbars are properly shaped.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Salisbury is 5-7ft with a 10.05s swell period. Wind is WSW at 9mph and conditions are rated Very Good. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Salisbury is 5-7ft, produced by a 3.9ft E primary swell at 10s, 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 Salisbury is Saturday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 6ft waves, a 10.05s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Salisbury works best with a E swell and W 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 Salisbury. 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.
Salisbury is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Salisbury offers accessible beach breaks along Massachusetts's North Shore, with consistent sandbars that peel nicely during Eastern swells. The westward-facing beach catches Atlantic energy well during fall and winter months, providing fun, manageable waves perfect for building skills. This is a classic New England beach break that works best at mid to high tide when the sandbars are properly shaped.
The prime season at Salisbury 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 Salisbury include cold water, strong currents, rocks at beach ends, crowded on weekends. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Salisbury 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.
