New Jersey
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at States Avenue, 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. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on ESE swell at 10s with barely a breath of wind. The S wind kicks in by afternoon — 16mph and poor by then.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SE swell at 8s and light winds out of the W. Onshore flow builds through the day to 12mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with calm winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
Tue, May 19: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Aim for the middle of the day — 2-3ft on SE swell at 9s with 11mph from the SW. 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. The sweet spot is around midday — 2-3ft waves, strong SSW wind at 13mph, 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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States Avenue in Margate is a punchy beach break where the Atlantic City coastline starts curving southward, giving it a unique swell window that picks up S and SSE swells from tropical systems. The sandbars here can produce surprisingly hollow and fast-breaking waves during fall hurricane season, rewarding surfers who can read the shifting bottom contours. Northerly winds blow offshore at this stretch, making it a good option when NE winds are wrecking the east-facing beaches.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at States Avenue is 2-3ft with a 9.35s swell period. Wind is SW at 6mph 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 States Avenue 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 States Avenue is Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 5.75s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
States Avenue 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 States Avenue. 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.
States Avenue is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. States Avenue in Margate is a punchy beach break where the Atlantic City coastline starts curving southward, giving it a unique swell window that picks up S and SSE swells from tropical systems. The sandbars here can produce surprisingly hollow and fast-breaking waves during fall hurricane season, rewarding surfers who can read the shifting bottom contours. Northerly winds blow offshore at this stretch, making it a good option when NE winds are wrecking the east-facing beaches.
The prime season at States Avenue 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 States Avenue include strong currents, shifting sandbars, crowded lineups during peak swells, cold water in winter, beach closures in summer. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our States Avenue 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.
