Florida - East Coast
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at South Beach for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at South Beach, Florida - East Coast. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Tue, Jun 30: 0–1ft, 3s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with barely a breath of wind. Afternoon breeze fills in to 11mph.
Wed, Jul 1: 0–1ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with light winds out of the NNW.
Thu, Jul 2: 1–1ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1ft and mostly poor with barely a breath of wind. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 13mph.
Fri, Jul 3: 1–1ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 1ft waves and very poor conditions with 9mph from the SE.
Sat, Jul 4: 1–1ft, 4s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with 10mph from the SE.
South Beach is a sheltered break at the southern tip of Miami Beach, where the South Pointe jetty at Government Cut provides some swell focusing and creates the most defined peaks in the area. Waves are often too small for anything beyond longboarding — by some estimates 95% of the time. When working, the water gets congested with swimmers, paddleboarders, and surfers on one of the most famous beaches in the world.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at South Beach is 0-1ft with a 2.75s swell period. Wind is ENE at 11mph and 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 South Beach is 0-1ft, produced by a 0.6ft E primary swell at 3s, a 0.2ft NE secondary swell at 9s. 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 South Beach is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 1ft waves, a 7s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
South Beach 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 South 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.
South Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. South Beach is a sheltered break at the southern tip of Miami Beach, where the South Pointe jetty at Government Cut provides some swell focusing and creates the most defined peaks in the area. Waves are often too small for anything beyond longboarding — by some estimates 95% of the time. When working, the water gets congested with swimmers, paddleboarders, and surfers on one of the most famous beaches in the world.
The prime season at South 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 South Beach include heavy crowds, localism, swimmers, jet skis, strong currents during swell. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our South 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
