Florida - West Coast
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at St Pete Beach, Florida - West 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: 0–1ft, 4s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with calm winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 13mph.
Sun, May 17: 0–1ft, 3s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with moderate E wind around 7mph. Expect the wind to bump up to around 11mph by PM.
Mon, May 18: flat–flatft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — Flat and very poor conditions with 15mph out of the ESE.
Tue, May 19: flat–flatft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with strong E wind at 13mph.
Wed, May 20: flat–flatft, 4s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — Flat waves and very poor conditions with 11mph from the E.
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St Pete Beach is a long, sandy beach break on Florida's Gulf Coast that offers mellow, forgiving waves perfect for beginners and intermediate surfers learning to develop their skills. The wide sandy bottom creates consistent, rolling waves that peel across the beach, with the best conditions arriving during fall and winter when Gulf swells are most active. This heavily developed tourist beach can get crowded, but the gentle wave quality and accessibility make it a popular destination for those just starting their surfing journey.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at St Pete Beach is 0-1ft with a 3.7s swell period. Wind is ESE at 10mph 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 St Pete Beach is 0-1ft, produced by a 0.8ft NW primary swell at 4s, a 0.7ft ENE 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 St Pete Beach is Saturday from 5 PM to 8 PM with 0ft waves, a 2.25s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
St Pete Beach works best with a W swell and E 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 Pete 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.
St Pete Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. St Pete Beach is a long, sandy beach break on Florida's Gulf Coast that offers mellow, forgiving waves perfect for beginners and intermediate surfers learning to develop their skills. The wide sandy bottom creates consistent, rolling waves that peel across the beach, with the best conditions arriving during fall and winter when Gulf swells are most active. This heavily developed tourist beach can get crowded, but the gentle wave quality and accessibility make it a popular destination for those just starting their surfing journey.
The prime season at St Pete 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 St Pete Beach include crowds, tourists, shallow water, occasional jellyfish. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our St Pete 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
