New Jersey
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Margate Pier, 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. Not the most exciting day — 3-4ft and poor - fair conditions with 11mph from the SSE.
Mon, May 11: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SE swell at 7s with 10mph NNE winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with moderate N wind around 8mph.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 4s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with moderate S wind around 10mph. Expect the wind to bump up to around 15mph by PM.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Fair. Expect 2-3ft all day on SSE swell at 7s with 8mph W winds — nothing amazing but surfable. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 14mph.
6s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Margate Pier is a beach break on Absecon Island south of Atlantic City, where the pier structure helps organize sandbars into surprisingly punchy peaks. The SE-facing exposure picks up swells from tropical systems and nor'easters, with the pier creating defined takeoff zones on either side. Fall is prime time when hurricane-season groundswells push through and NW offshore winds clean up the surf.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Margate Pier is 3-4ft with a 8.05s 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 Margate Pier is 3-4ft, produced by a 3.5ft SE primary swell at 8s, a 0.3ft ESE secondary swell at 13s, a 0.2ft SE tertiary swell at 17s, a 0.9ft S wind swell swell at 2s. 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 Margate Pier is Thursday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 3ft waves, a 5.75s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Margate Pier 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 Margate Pier. 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.
Margate Pier is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Margate Pier is a beach break on Absecon Island south of Atlantic City, where the pier structure helps organize sandbars into surprisingly punchy peaks. The SE-facing exposure picks up swells from tropical systems and nor'easters, with the pier creating defined takeoff zones on either side. Fall is prime time when hurricane-season groundswells push through and NW offshore winds clean up the surf.
The prime season at Margate Pier 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 Margate Pier include pier pilings, strong currents near structure, rip currents, crowds on summer weekends, seasonal jellyfish. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Margate Pier 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.
