New Jersey
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at 18th St., New Jersey. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sun, May 10: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Not the most exciting day — 2-3ft and poor - fair conditions with moderate S wind around 11mph.
Mon, May 11: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on SE swell at 7s with 10mph from the NNE. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with moderate N wind around 8mph.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 4s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with 10mph from the S. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 15mph.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Fair. Rideable all day with 2-3ft waves on SSE swell at 6s and moderate W wind around 8mph. Expect the wind to bump up to around 13mph by PM.
6s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
18th Street in Ocean City is a reliable beach break where jetty-shaped sandbars produce punchy, hollow peaks that reward experienced surfers. The SE-facing exposure picks up a wide range of swells, with fall hurricane season and early nor'easters delivering the most powerful and well-shaped conditions. A well-loved local spot that consistently produces quality waves when other OC blocks are flat.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at 18th St. is 2-3+ft with a 8.05s swell period. Wind is SSE at 11mph 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 18th St. is 2-3+ft, produced by a 2.8ft SE primary swell at 8s, a 0.3ft SE secondary swell at 13s. 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 18th St. is Thursday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 3ft waves, a 5.7s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
18th St. 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 18th St.. 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.
18th St. is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. 18th Street in Ocean City is a reliable beach break where jetty-shaped sandbars produce punchy, hollow peaks that reward experienced surfers. The SE-facing exposure picks up a wide range of swells, with fall hurricane season and early nor'easters delivering the most powerful and well-shaped conditions. A well-loved local spot that consistently produces quality waves when other OC blocks are flat.
The prime season at 18th St. 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 18th St. include rip currents, shifting sandbars, crowded lineups during summer, cold water in winter, occasional beach closures. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our 18th St. 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.
