New Jersey
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Ortley Beach, 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 moderate ESE wind around 9mph.
Mon, May 11: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. The sweet spot is around midday — 2-3ft waves, 12mph from the NNE, poor - fair conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with 14mph N winds.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with moderate S wind around 9mph. Expect the wind to bump up to around 16mph by PM.
Thu, May 14: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with 7mph from the WSW. Afternoon breeze fills in to 15mph.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Ortley Beach is a forgiving sandy beach break located on New Jersey's central shore, offering accessible waves for beginners and intermediate surfers. The beach break produces consistent, peaky waves across a wide stretch of sand, making it ideal for learning and progression. As a popular local spot with good infrastructure nearby, Ortley provides a welcoming atmosphere for both locals and visiting surfers looking to enjoy reliable Atlantic swell.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Ortley Beach is 2-3ft with a 8.1s swell period. Wind is ESE at 10mph 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 Ortley Beach is 2-3ft, produced by a 3.8ft SE primary swell at 8s, a 0.3ft ESE secondary swell at 13s. 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 Ortley Beach is Friday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 2ft waves, a 6.35s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Ortley Beach works best with a E swell and W 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 Ortley Beach. 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.
Ortley Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Ortley Beach is a forgiving sandy beach break located on New Jersey's central shore, offering accessible waves for beginners and intermediate surfers. The beach break produces consistent, peaky waves across a wide stretch of sand, making it ideal for learning and progression. As a popular local spot with good infrastructure nearby, Ortley provides a welcoming atmosphere for both locals and visiting surfers looking to enjoy reliable Atlantic swell.
The prime season at Ortley Beach 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 Ortley Beach include crowded during summer months, rip currents, beach hazards. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Ortley Beach 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.
