New York
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Turtle Cove, New York. 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. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 16mph.
Sun, May 17: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on ESE swell at 8s with 8mph WSW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 14mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with 16mph E winds.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with moderate SW wind around 12mph. Expect the wind to bump up to around 21mph by PM.
Wed, May 20: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Midday is the call — 2-3ft waves with 18mph SW winds and fair conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down. Afternoon wind picks back up so try to get wet before 2pm.
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Turtle Cove (Turtles) is widely considered the best wave in Montauk — a powerful right-hand point/reef break over boulders just west of Montauk Lighthouse. When a proper SE swell hits with NW offshore winds, it produces hollow, tubing waves with rides of 50-300 meters. The shallow boulder reef, strong rip currents, and powerful waves make this strictly for experienced surfers.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Turtle Cove is 1-2+ft with a 9.35s swell period. Wind is SSW at 5mph 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 Turtle Cove is 1-2+ft, produced by a 2.6ft ESE primary swell at 10s, a 2.3ft SSE secondary swell at 9s. 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 Turtle Cove is Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 6.3s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Turtle Cove works best with a SE swell and NW 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 Turtle Cove. 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.
Turtle Cove is a point with a rock bottom, suited to advanced surfers. Turtle Cove (Turtles) is widely considered the best wave in Montauk — a powerful right-hand point/reef break over boulders just west of Montauk Lighthouse. When a proper SE swell hits with NW offshore winds, it produces hollow, tubing waves with rides of 50-300 meters. The shallow boulder reef, strong rip currents, and powerful waves make this strictly for experienced surfers.
The prime season at Turtle Cove 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 Turtle Cove include shallow boulder reef, strong rip currents around point, powerful waves, long paddle out, jellyfish. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Turtle Cove 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.
