Georgia
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Blackbeard Island, Georgia. 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, 3s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with moderate SSE wind around 8mph.
Mon, May 11: 1–2ft, 12s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on SE swell at 5s with gentle WSW breeze. Onshore flow builds through the day to 8mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Tue, May 12: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Midday is the call — 2-3ft waves with 12mph from the NE and poor - fair conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Wed, May 13: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Expect 2-3ft all day on E swell at 8s with light E winds — nothing amazing but surfable.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Fair. Rideable all day with 2-3ft waves on ESE swell at 7s and gentle NW breeze.
8s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Blackbeard Island offers mellow beach breaks along Georgia's barrier island coastline, with the WNW-facing exposure capturing Atlantic swell and tropical storm systems effectively during autumn months. The sandy bottom provides a forgiving learning environment with consistent, rolling waves ideal for developing technique in a relatively uncrowded setting. As a protected island area with limited access, this spot maintains its isolation and pristine character while offering reliable waves when subtropical systems move up the East Coast.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Blackbeard Island is 1-2ft with a 2.7s swell period. Wind is SSE 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 Blackbeard Island is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.6ft SE wind swell swell at 3s. 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 Blackbeard Island is Wednesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 7.8s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Blackbeard Island works best with a ESE swell and WNW 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 Blackbeard Island. 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.
Blackbeard Island is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Blackbeard Island offers mellow beach breaks along Georgia's barrier island coastline, with the WNW-facing exposure capturing Atlantic swell and tropical storm systems effectively during autumn months. The sandy bottom provides a forgiving learning environment with consistent, rolling waves ideal for developing technique in a relatively uncrowded setting. As a protected island area with limited access, this spot maintains its isolation and pristine character while offering reliable waves when subtropical systems move up the East Coast.
The prime season at Blackbeard Island 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 Blackbeard Island include marsh terrain, tidal currents, limited access, shallow areas at low tide. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Blackbeard Island 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.
