New Jersey
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Bay Head, 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: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 3-4ft and poor - fair with moderate SE wind around 9mph.
Mon, May 11: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Rideable all day with 2-3ft waves on SE swell at 7s and 7mph from the NNE.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with 8mph N winds.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with moderate SSW wind around 11mph. Afternoon breeze fills in to 18mph.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on SSE swell at 6s with 8mph from the SW. Onshore flow builds through the day to 15mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
6s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Bay Head is one of New Jersey's best-known surf breaks, famous for its groyne field that shapes sandbars into fast, hollow right-hand barrels. The rock groins focus swell energy and create defined peaks that produce some of the most consistent quality waves on the Jersey Shore, especially during fall nor'easters and hurricane swells. A strong local crew keeps the lineup competitive, but the wave quality here draws surfers from across the tri-state area.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Bay Head is 3-4ft with a 8.1s swell period. Wind is ESE at 9mph 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 Bay Head is 3-4ft, produced by a 3.8ft SE primary swell at 8s, a 0.3ft ESE 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 Bay Head is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 5.65s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Bay Head 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 Bay Head. 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.
Bay Head is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Bay Head is one of New Jersey's best-known surf breaks, famous for its groyne field that shapes sandbars into fast, hollow right-hand barrels. The rock groins focus swell energy and create defined peaks that produce some of the most consistent quality waves on the Jersey Shore, especially during fall nor'easters and hurricane swells. A strong local crew keeps the lineup competitive, but the wave quality here draws surfers from across the tri-state area.
The prime season at Bay Head 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 Bay Head include groyne rocks, strong currents, localism, crowded lineups, cold water. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Bay Head 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.
