New Jersey
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Stockton for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Stockton, 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, 10s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1ft and mostly poor with glassy conditions. Afternoon breeze fills in to 13mph.
Wed, Jul 1: 1–1ft, 4s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1ft waves and poor conditions with 10mph SSW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 21mph.
Thu, Jul 2: 1–1ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1ft and poor conditions with moderate SSW wind around 10mph.
Fri, Jul 3: 1–1ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with 8mph WSW winds.
Sat, Jul 4: 1–1ft, 4s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1ft and mostly very poor with moderate W wind around 7mph. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 15mph.
Stockton is a beach break located near Cape May where the New Jersey coastline curves to face nearly due south, giving it a unique swell window compared to the east-facing beaches further north. The spot picks up S and SSE swells from tropical systems and southerly storms, producing punchy sandbars that can surprise with their power. Northerly winds blow offshore here, making it a solid option when the rest of the Jersey Shore is getting hammered by onshore NE winds.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Stockton is 1ft with a 6.2s swell period. Wind is SSE at 6mph 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 Stockton is 1ft, produced by a 0.5ft SE primary swell at 6s, a 0.3ft SE secondary swell at 9s, a 0.3ft S wind swell swell at 1s. 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 Stockton is Wednesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 1ft waves, a 2.9s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Stockton works best with a SSE 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 Stockton. 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.
Stockton is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Stockton is a beach break located near Cape May where the New Jersey coastline curves to face nearly due south, giving it a unique swell window compared to the east-facing beaches further north. The spot picks up S and SSE swells from tropical systems and southerly storms, producing punchy sandbars that can surprise with their power. Northerly winds blow offshore here, making it a solid option when the rest of the Jersey Shore is getting hammered by onshore NE winds.
The prime season at Stockton 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 Stockton include rip currents, shifting sandbars, strong longshore drift, cold water in winter. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Stockton 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.
