Florida - East Coast
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at American Beach, 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: 0–1ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and poor conditions with 9mph E winds.
Mon, May 11: 0–1ft, 12s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with calm winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 6mph.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 12s period, rated Very Poor. Afternoon is the play — morning is only very poor at 0-1ft. Size picks up through the day, hitting 3-4ft with poor conditions by late afternoon.
Wed, May 13: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on ENE swell at 8s with light winds out of the ENE. The ENE wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and poor - fair by then.
Thu, May 14: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with gentle WNW breeze. Expect the wind to bump up to around 11mph by PM.
8s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
American Beach is a historically significant stretch of shoreline on south Amelia Island, founded in 1935 as a recreation destination for African Americans during segregation. Home to NaNa, the tallest sand dune in Florida, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The surf is similar to the rest of the island — open beach break peaks on NE swells — but the compact beach and lesser-known status keep crowds minimal.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at American Beach 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 American Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 0.8ft ENE primary swell at 6s, a 0.7ft E secondary swell at 9s, a 0.4ft NNE tertiary swell at 2s, a 0.8ft ESE 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 American Beach is Wednesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 8.2s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
American Beach 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 American Beach. 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.
American Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. American Beach is a historically significant stretch of shoreline on south Amelia Island, founded in 1935 as a recreation destination for African Americans during segregation. Home to NaNa, the tallest sand dune in Florida, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The surf is similar to the rest of the island — open beach break peaks on NE swells — but the compact beach and lesser-known status keep crowds minimal.
The prime season at American Beach 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 American Beach include strong currents, rip currents, jellyfish, sharks, soft shifting sandbars. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our American Beach 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.
