Florida - East Coast
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at 40th 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, 4s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with strong SE wind at 13mph.
Mon, May 11: 0–1ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — Flat and very poor with moderate SE wind around 7mph. Afternoon breeze fills in to 13mph.
Tue, May 12: flat–flatft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with gentle SSW breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 9mph.
Wed, May 13: 0–1ft, 10s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with light winds out of the E.
Thu, May 14: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on NNE swell at 8s and light N winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 13mph from the SE and dropping conditions to poor.
8s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
40th Street in Miami Beach is a fairly exposed beach break that offers left and right hand waves and can work at any time of year. Despite being in the heart of Miami Beach, it is rarely crowded — most people on this stretch are sunbathing, not surfing. More exposed than nearby spots, making it a good option for uncrowded peaks when NE groundswells are running.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at 40th Street is 1-2ft with a 4.2s swell period. Wind is SE at 13mph 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 40th Street is 1-2ft, produced by a 0.5ft NE primary swell at 7s, a 0.5ft N secondary swell at 7s, a 0.3ft NE tertiary swell at 10s, a 1.4ft SSE wind swell swell at 4s. 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 40th Street is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 8.2s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
40th Street works best with a E 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 40th 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.
40th Street is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. 40th Street in Miami Beach is a fairly exposed beach break that offers left and right hand waves and can work at any time of year. Despite being in the heart of Miami Beach, it is rarely crowded — most people on this stretch are sunbathing, not surfing. More exposed than nearby spots, making it a good option for uncrowded peaks when NE groundswells are running.
The prime season at 40th 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 40th Street include strong currents, rip currents, crowds, jellyfish, boat traffic, shallow sandbars. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our 40th 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.
