Florida - East Coast
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Sebastian 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, 5s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on E swell at 8s and glassy conditions. The ESE wind kicks in by afternoon — 17mph and poor by then.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Midday is the call — 3-4ft waves with 14mph E winds and poor - fair conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Mon, May 18: 3–4ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 3-4ft waves and poor - fair conditions with 8mph E winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 12mph.
Tue, May 19: 4–5ft, 6s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 4-5ft and poor - fair with 9mph from the E.
Wed, May 20: 3–4ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on ENE swell at 5s with light ESE winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 12mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
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Sebastian Inlet is the most famous surf spot in Florida, where offset jetties create a sand-bottom wedge producing performance-quality rights off the north jetty. First Peak — immediately adjacent to the jetty — was one of the best waves on the entire East Coast for nearly 40 years (diminished after a 2003 jetty retrofit). Monster Hole on the south side's ebb shoal provides rides up to 400 yards on epic swells. Alumni include Kelly Slater, Lisa Andersen, and the Hobgood twins. State park entry fee required.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Sebastian Inlet is 2-3ft with a 4.55s swell period. Wind is ESE at 12mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Sebastian Inlet is 2-3ft, produced by a 0.7ft NE primary swell at 7s, a 0.7ft E secondary swell at 8s, a 0.4ft ENE tertiary swell at 11s, a 2.8ft ESE wind swell swell at 5s. 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 Sebastian Inlet is Wednesday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 4ft waves, a 5.3s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Sebastian Inlet works best with a NE 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 Sebastian 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.
Sebastian Inlet is a rivermouth with a sand bottom, suited to advanced surfers. Sebastian Inlet is the most famous surf spot in Florida, where offset jetties create a sand-bottom wedge producing performance-quality rights off the north jetty. First Peak — immediately adjacent to the jetty — was one of the best waves on the entire East Coast for nearly 40 years (diminished after a 2003 jetty retrofit). Monster Hole on the south side's ebb shoal provides rides up to 400 yards on epic swells. Alumni include Kelly Slater, Lisa Andersen, and the Hobgood twins. State park entry fee required.
The prime season at Sebastian 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 Sebastian Inlet include strong currents, rip currents, jetty rocks, boat traffic, sharks, localism, crowded lineups. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Sebastian 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.
