New Jersey
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Crystals, 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: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Not the most exciting day — 2-3ft and poor - fair conditions with 11mph from the SSE.
Mon, May 11: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Skip the dawn patrol — 1-2ft and poor early on. Afternoon shapes up better with 2-3ft and poor - fair conditions.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with 9mph N winds.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 4s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with strong SSW wind at 13mph.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Fair. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 2-3ft with 12mph from the WNW. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
6s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Crystals is a quality beach break near the border of Brigantine and Atlantic City, where the coastline begins its southward curve and the SE-facing exposure picks up a wider range of swell angles than the purely east-facing beaches to the north. The sandbars here can produce surprisingly hollow and punchy peaks, especially during fall when SE hurricane swells and NW offshore winds combine for clean, powerful conditions. A local favorite that often has better shape than the more crowded Atlantic City breaks nearby.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Crystals is 2-3ft with a 8.1s swell period. Wind is SSE at 11mph 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 Crystals is 2-3ft, produced by a 0.3ft SE primary swell at 13s, a 0.2ft SE secondary swell at 16s, a 3.6ft SE wind swell swell at 8s. 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 Crystals is Thursday from 2 PM to 5 PM with 3ft waves, a 5.9s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Crystals works best with a SE swell and NW 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 Crystals. 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.
Crystals is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Crystals is a quality beach break near the border of Brigantine and Atlantic City, where the coastline begins its southward curve and the SE-facing exposure picks up a wider range of swell angles than the purely east-facing beaches to the north. The sandbars here can produce surprisingly hollow and punchy peaks, especially during fall when SE hurricane swells and NW offshore winds combine for clean, powerful conditions. A local favorite that often has better shape than the more crowded Atlantic City breaks nearby.
The prime season at Crystals 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 Crystals include crowds during peak swell, strong longshore currents, shifting sandbars, jellyfish in summer. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Crystals 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.
