New Jersey
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Barnegat Light for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Barnegat Light, New Jersey. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Wed, Jun 24: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with calm winds.
Thu, Jun 25: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with light SW winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 18mph.
Fri, Jun 26: 2–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. Aim for the middle of the day — 2ft on ESE swell at 12s with moderate SSE wind around 11mph. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
Sat, Jun 27: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1ft and mostly poor with light ENE winds.
Sun, Jun 28: 1–2ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on SSE swell at 6s and glassy conditions. The ESE wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and poor by then.
Barnegat Light sits at the northern tip of Long Beach Island where the Barnegat Inlet creates a powerful, wedging wave that breaks over shifting sandbars near a partially submerged rock jetty. The inlet's tidal flow sculpts deep sandbars that produce heavy, hollow barrels when larger swells arrive, but the combination of strong currents, submerged rocks, and unpredictable bottom contours makes this a spot strictly for expert surfers. Fall nor'easters and hurricane swells deliver the goods, but the consequences of a mistake here are severe.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Barnegat Light is 1-2ft with a 6.65s swell period. Wind is S at 12mph and conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Barnegat Light is 1-2ft, produced by a 0.4ft NNE primary swell at 3s, a 2.8ft SSE wind swell swell at 7s. 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 Barnegat Light is Friday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 2ft waves, a 5.1s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Barnegat Light 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 Barnegat Light. 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.
Barnegat Light is a rivermouth with a sand bottom, suited to expert surfers. Barnegat Light sits at the northern tip of Long Beach Island where the Barnegat Inlet creates a powerful, wedging wave that breaks over shifting sandbars near a partially submerged rock jetty. The inlet's tidal flow sculpts deep sandbars that produce heavy, hollow barrels when larger swells arrive, but the combination of strong currents, submerged rocks, and unpredictable bottom contours makes this a spot strictly for expert surfers. Fall nor'easters and hurricane swells deliver the goods, but the consequences of a mistake here are severe.
The prime season at Barnegat Light 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 Barnegat Light include submerged rock jetty, extreme currents, shifting sandbars, boat traffic, cold water, heavy shorebreak. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Barnegat Light 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
