Massachusetts
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.
Sun, May 10: 5–6ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Not the most exciting day — 5-6ft and poor - fair conditions with 13mph from the SW.
Mon, May 11: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Fair - Good. Early morning is your best window — 4-5ft waves on SSE swell at 8s with 11mph NNW winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SE swell at 8s with 14mph N winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with 16mph out of the SW. Expect the wind to bump up to around 21mph by PM.
Thu, May 14: 3–4ft, 6s period, rated Poor. 3-4ft waves to start the day on SSE swell at 8s.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
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 5-6ft with a 8.35s swell period. Wind is SW at 12mph 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 Nantucket is 5-6ft, produced by a 5.6ft S primary swell at 8s, a 0.4ft SE secondary swell at 13s, a 0.2ft SSE tertiary swell at 16s. 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 Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 8s swell period, and conditions rated Good. 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
