New Jersey
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at St. James for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at St. James, New Jersey. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Tue, Jun 30: 1–1ft, 9s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1ft waves and poor conditions with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 14mph.
Wed, Jul 1: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 1ft waves and poor conditions with moderate SSW wind around 11mph. Expect the wind to bump up to around 19mph by PM.
Thu, Jul 2: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with moderate SSW wind around 11mph. Expect the wind to bump up to around 15mph by PM.
Fri, Jul 3: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with light WSW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 13mph.
Sat, Jul 4: 1–1ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1ft and poor conditions with 7mph W winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 17mph.
St. James is a beach break located near the southern end of Absecon Island where the New Jersey coastline curves to face more southward, giving it a unique swell window. The spot picks up S and SSE swells from tropical systems that the east-facing beaches further north miss, producing punchy peaks over shifting sandbars. Northerly winds blow offshore here, making it a good option when the standard NJ beach breaks are getting blown out by NE winds.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at St. James is 1ft with a 8.65s swell period. Wind is S at 13mph 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 St. James is 1ft, produced by a 1.8ft SE primary swell at 9s, a 1.3ft S 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 St. James is Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 5.25s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
St. James 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 St. James. 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.
St. James is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. St. James is a beach break located near the southern end of Absecon Island where the New Jersey coastline curves to face more southward, giving it a unique swell window. The spot picks up S and SSE swells from tropical systems that the east-facing beaches further north miss, producing punchy peaks over shifting sandbars. Northerly winds blow offshore here, making it a good option when the standard NJ beach breaks are getting blown out by NE winds.
The prime season at St. James 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 St. James include rip currents, shifting sandbars, crowds during summer, cold water. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our St. James 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.
