New Jersey
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.
Sat, May 16: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with 10mph from the S. Afternoon breeze fills in to 21mph.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on S swell at 6s with 7mph from the WSW. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with light WSW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with moderate SW wind around 9mph. Expect the wind to bump up to around 16mph by PM.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with 12mph SSW winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 18mph.
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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 1-2ft with a 9.2s swell period. Wind is S at 9mph 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 1-2ft, produced by a 0.5ft SSE primary swell at 9s, a 0.3ft ESE secondary swell at 10s, a 0.8ft SSW 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 Stockton is Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 5.85s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
