Massachusetts
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sun, May 10: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 2-3ft and poor - fair with strong SSW wind at 13mph.
Mon, May 11: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on ESE swell at 8s with light WNW winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Tue, May 12: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Expect 1-2ft waves early on E swell at 8s.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with 8mph SW winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 15mph.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Poor - Fair. Aim for the middle of the day — 2-3ft on E swell at 10s with 16mph SSE winds. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Cape Cod offers accessible beach breaks along its iconic sandy shores, with consistent peaks forming across the exposed beaches facing east into the Atlantic. The spot works best during autumn when Atlantic swells wrap around the cape and offshore west winds groom the faces, providing fun, forgiving waves perfect for building your skills. The shallow, sandy bottom and gradual beach break make this a welcoming destination for surfers of all levels.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Cape Cod is 2-3ft with a 8.25s swell period. Wind is SSW at 13mph 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 Cape Cod is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.3ft SE primary swell at 8s, a 1ft E secondary swell at 5s, a 0.7ft E tertiary swell at 9s, a 1.1ft S 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 Cape Cod is Monday from 5 PM to 8 PM with 3ft waves, a 7.85s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Cape Cod 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 Cape Cod. 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.
Cape Cod is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Cape Cod offers accessible beach breaks along its iconic sandy shores, with consistent peaks forming across the exposed beaches facing east into the Atlantic. The spot works best during autumn when Atlantic swells wrap around the cape and offshore west winds groom the faces, providing fun, forgiving waves perfect for building your skills. The shallow, sandy bottom and gradual beach break make this a welcoming destination for surfers of all levels.
The prime season at Cape Cod 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 Cape Cod include strong currents, cold water temperature, occasional rocks at certain breaks. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Cape Cod 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.
