New Jersey
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at South Carolina Ave, New Jersey. 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, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on ESE swell at 10s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 17mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on SE swell at 8s with light winds out of the W. The S wind kicks in by afternoon — 12mph and poor - fair by then.
Mon, May 18: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SSE swell at 7s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the SSE and dropping conditions to poor.
Tue, May 19: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 2-3ft with 11mph SW winds. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down. Afternoon wind picks back up so try to get wet before 2pm.
Wed, May 20: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Midday is the call — 2-3ft waves with 13mph out of the SSW and poor - fair conditions. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up. Sea breeze fills back in by mid-afternoon so get on it early.
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South Carolina Ave is a beach break in Atlantic City where the coast angles more southward than the purely east-facing beaches to the north, picking up ESE and SE swells with good exposure. The shifting sandbars produce punchy, hollow peaks that can deliver quality surf during fall hurricane swells and nor'easters. NW offshore winds clean up the faces nicely, and the spot draws a mix of local surfers and AC visitors when conditions fire.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at South Carolina Ave is 2-3ft with a 9.35s swell period. Wind is SW at 7mph and conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at South Carolina Ave is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.6ft ESE primary swell at 10s, a 1.6ft SSE secondary swell at 9s, a 0.5ft SW wind swell swell at 3s. 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 Carolina Ave is Sunday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 4ft waves, a 7.9s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
South Carolina Ave works best with a ESE swell and NW 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 Carolina Ave. 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 Carolina Ave is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. South Carolina Ave is a beach break in Atlantic City where the coast angles more southward than the purely east-facing beaches to the north, picking up ESE and SE swells with good exposure. The shifting sandbars produce punchy, hollow peaks that can deliver quality surf during fall hurricane swells and nor'easters. NW offshore winds clean up the faces nicely, and the spot draws a mix of local surfers and AC visitors when conditions fire.
The prime season at South Carolina Ave 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 Carolina Ave include rip currents, crowded lineup during peak season, beach tourism traffic, shifting sandbars, occasional jellyfish. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our South Carolina Ave 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.
