Florida - East Coast
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Atlantic 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: 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 12mph from the NNE.
Wed, May 13: 4–5ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on ENE swell at 8s with glassy conditions. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down 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 WNW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
8s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Atlantic Beach offers multiple sandbars to choose from along its stretch of east-facing coastline, south of Mayport and north of Neptune Beach. Generally smaller waves and fewer crowds than the Poles or the Pier make it ideal for beginners. Both left and right handers break along shifting sandbars, and it serves as a mellow gateway to the more powerful breaks nearby.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Atlantic 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 Atlantic Beach 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 Atlantic Beach is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 7.5s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Atlantic 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 Atlantic 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.
Atlantic Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Atlantic Beach offers multiple sandbars to choose from along its stretch of east-facing coastline, south of Mayport and north of Neptune Beach. Generally smaller waves and fewer crowds than the Poles or the Pier make it ideal for beginners. Both left and right handers break along shifting sandbars, and it serves as a mellow gateway to the more powerful breaks nearby.
The prime season at Atlantic 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 Atlantic Beach include rip currents, sharks, stingrays, crowds during summer, jellyfish. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Atlantic 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.
