New Jersey
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Ocean City, NJ, 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. Pretty quiet out there — 3-4ft and mostly poor - fair with gentle S breeze.
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 7mph N winds.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 4s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with 10mph S winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 15mph.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Fair. Rideable all day with 2-3ft waves on SSE swell at 7s and 8mph W winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 13mph.
6s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Ocean City is one of southern New Jersey's most consistent surf zones, with jetties at nearly every block creating well-shaped sandbars that produce quality peaks up and down the island. The SE-facing exposure picks up a wide swell window, and the groyne structures focus wave energy into defined takeoff zones. Fall hurricane swells and nor'easters deliver the best conditions, with NW offshore winds grooming the faces clean. A family-friendly town with strong surf culture.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Ocean City, NJ is 3-4ft with a 8.05s swell period. Wind is S 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 Ocean City, NJ is 3-4ft, produced by a 3.4ft SE primary swell at 8s, a 0.3ft ESE secondary swell at 13s, 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 Ocean City, NJ is Thursday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 3ft waves, a 5.75s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Ocean City, NJ 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 Ocean City, NJ. 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.
Ocean City, NJ is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Ocean City is one of southern New Jersey's most consistent surf zones, with jetties at nearly every block creating well-shaped sandbars that produce quality peaks up and down the island. The SE-facing exposure picks up a wide swell window, and the groyne structures focus wave energy into defined takeoff zones. Fall hurricane swells and nor'easters deliver the best conditions, with NW offshore winds grooming the faces clean. A family-friendly town with strong surf culture.
The prime season at Ocean City, NJ 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 Ocean City, NJ include strong currents, crowded summer lineups, rip currents, jellyfish, inexperienced swimmers in the water. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Ocean City, NJ 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.
