Massachusetts
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Nantucket for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Nantucket, Massachusetts. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Wed, Jun 24: 0–1ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. First light looks cleanest — 2ft on SSE swell at 7s with glassy conditions. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Thu, Jun 25: 0–1ft, 8s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with light WSW winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 11mph.
Fri, Jun 26: flat–flatft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — Flat and very poor with 8mph S winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 15mph by PM.
Sat, Jun 27: flat–flatft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — Flat and mostly very poor with 13mph out of the WSW.
Sun, Jun 28: flat–flatft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — Flat and mostly very poor with strong NNE wind at 15mph.
Nantucket, Massachusetts offers surprisingly rideable surf along its south-facing shores, picking up south and southeast swells generated by Atlantic storms and passing hurricanes. The sandy bottom breaks produce punchy, inconsistent waves that reward patient surfers willing to wait for the right conditions, particularly during fall when powerful nor'easters and late-season hurricanes send quality groundswell through. The island's remote location off the coast of Massachusetts means crowds are rarely an issue, giving surfers plenty of room to explore its various beach breaks in relative solitude.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Nantucket is Flat with a 7.65s swell period. Wind is WSW at 12mph and conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Nantucket is Flat, produced by a 3.2ft SSE primary swell at 8s, a 2.7ft SW wind swell swell at 4s. 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 Nantucket is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 0ft waves, a 7.85s swell period, and conditions rated Very Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Nantucket works best with a S swell and N 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 Nantucket. 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.
Nantucket is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Nantucket, Massachusetts offers surprisingly rideable surf along its south-facing shores, picking up south and southeast swells generated by Atlantic storms and passing hurricanes. The sandy bottom breaks produce punchy, inconsistent waves that reward patient surfers willing to wait for the right conditions, particularly during fall when powerful nor'easters and late-season hurricanes send quality groundswell through. The island's remote location off the coast of Massachusetts means crowds are rarely an issue, giving surfers plenty of room to explore its various beach breaks in relative solitude.
The prime season at Nantucket 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 Nantucket include strong currents, rip currents, cold water, fog, boat traffic, remote location. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Nantucket 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
