Florida - East Coast
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Vilano, Florida - East 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: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with 8mph E winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 14mph.
Sun, May 17: 0–1ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with 9mph from the SSE. Afternoon breeze fills in to 15mph.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with gentle SE breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with gentle E breeze.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with barely a breath of wind. Expect the wind to bump up to around 11mph by PM.
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Vilano is the most powerful wave in the St. Augustine area — a fast, steep shorebreak that bowls and wedges just feet from the sand, sometimes called St. Augustine's answer to Sebastian Inlet. It only works on high tide when water clears the outer bars, producing hollow, pitching barrels over coarse coquina sand. Fickle and unpredictable, but when it's on, it's world-class for the region.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Vilano is 1-2+ft with a 6.65s swell period. Wind is E at 7mph 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 Vilano is 1-2+ft, produced by a 2.5ft ENE primary swell at 6s, a 1.2ft ESE secondary swell at 8s, a 0.3ft ENE tertiary swell at 12s. 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 Vilano is Saturday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 2ft waves, a 6.65s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Vilano works best with a E swell and SW 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 Vilano. 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.
Vilano is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to advanced surfers. Vilano is the most powerful wave in the St. Augustine area — a fast, steep shorebreak that bowls and wedges just feet from the sand, sometimes called St. Augustine's answer to Sebastian Inlet. It only works on high tide when water clears the outer bars, producing hollow, pitching barrels over coarse coquina sand. Fickle and unpredictable, but when it's on, it's world-class for the region.
The prime season at Vilano 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 Vilano include powerful shorebreak, strong inlet currents, coarse coquina sand, sharks, rip currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Vilano 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.
