New Jersey
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at 56th 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. Slim pickings today — 2-3ft and poor - fair with 12mph from the S.
Mon, May 11: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Hold off if you can — morning starts out poor with 1-2ft waves. Things come together by the afternoon with 1-2ft at poor.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with moderate N wind around 9mph.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 4s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with 13mph out of the SSW.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SSE swell at 6s with moderate W wind around 9mph. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 15mph and poor by then.
6s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
56th Street is a quality beach break in Sea Isle City on the southern New Jersey coast, where the coastline angles to pick up SE swells particularly well from tropical systems and coastal storms. The shifting sandbars produce punchy, hollow peaks that reward experienced surfers, especially during fall hurricane season when powerful groundswells combine with NW offshore winds for clean, well-shaped conditions. A step up in consistency from the surrounding beaches.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at 56th St. is 2-3ft 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 56th St. is 2-3ft, 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 56th St. is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 5.75s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
56th 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 56th 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.
56th St. is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. 56th Street is a quality beach break in Sea Isle City on the southern New Jersey coast, where the coastline angles to pick up SE swells particularly well from tropical systems and coastal storms. The shifting sandbars produce punchy, hollow peaks that reward experienced surfers, especially during fall hurricane season when powerful groundswells combine with NW offshore winds for clean, well-shaped conditions. A step up in consistency from the surrounding beaches.
The prime season at 56th 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 56th St. include rip currents, shifting sandbars, crowded lineups in summer, cold water in winter, strong longshore drift. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our 56th 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.
