Florida - East Coast
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at 18th Street, Florida - East Coast. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sun, May 10: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with 9mph E winds.
Mon, May 11: 1–2ft, 12s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with light winds out of the SSE. Afternoon breeze fills in to 9mph.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 12s period, rated Poor. Morning kicks off with 0-1ft on ESE swell at 5s. Size picks up as the day goes on — 3-4ft by afternoon. Wind increases to 14mph from the NE.
Wed, May 13: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on ENE swell at 8s and light ENE winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the ENE and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on E swell at 8s with light winds out of the W. The ENE wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor - fair by then.
8s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
18th Street is a laid-back beach break tucked along Florida's East Coast near Jacksonville Beach, where the Atlantic coastline faces northeast and picks up energy from passing nor'easters and tropical swells. Waves here tend to be punchy and short-lived, offering fun peaks ideal for longboarders and beginners working on their fundamentals. The spot comes alive in fall when hurricane-generated swells push up the coast, delivering some of the best conditions this stretch of Florida's East Coast has to offer.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at 18th Street is 1-2ft with a 6.4s swell period. Wind is E at 8mph 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 18th Street is 1-2ft, produced by a 0.8ft ENE primary swell at 6s, a 0.7ft E secondary swell at 9s, a 0.5ft NNE tertiary swell at 3s, a 0.8ft ESE 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 18th Street is Wednesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 8.25s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
18th Street works best with a NE swell and W 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 Street. 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 Street is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. 18th Street is a laid-back beach break tucked along Florida's East Coast near Jacksonville Beach, where the Atlantic coastline faces northeast and picks up energy from passing nor'easters and tropical swells. Waves here tend to be punchy and short-lived, offering fun peaks ideal for longboarders and beginners working on their fundamentals. The spot comes alive in fall when hurricane-generated swells push up the coast, delivering some of the best conditions this stretch of Florida's East Coast has to offer.
The prime season at 18th Street 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 Street include strong currents, rip currents, jellyfish, sharks, crowds during peak swell. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our 18th Street 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.
