Florida - East Coast
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Palm Beach, Florida - East Coast. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sun, May 10: 1–2ft, 4s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with strong SE wind at 13mph.
Mon, May 11: 0–1ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with light winds out of the S. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 15mph.
Tue, May 12: 0–1ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — Flat waves and very poor conditions with light winds out of the SSW. Expect the wind to bump up to around 9mph by PM.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with light NE winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 9mph.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on NNE swell at 8s with gentle NW breeze. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
8s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
The open beach breaks along Palm Beach between the jetties area and Lake Worth Pier are typical South Florida beach breaks — sand bottom, left and right peaks, generally small and mushy but occasionally producing lined-up walls on solid NE swells. A good area for longboarding and learning, less crowded than the nearby pier and inlet breaks.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Palm Beach is 1-2ft with a 3.75s swell period. Wind is SE at 14mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Palm Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 0.9ft NNE primary swell at 7s, a 0.6ft NE secondary swell at 9s, a 2.4ft SE 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 Palm Beach is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 8.05s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Palm 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 Palm 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.
Palm Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. The open beach breaks along Palm Beach between the jetties area and Lake Worth Pier are typical South Florida beach breaks — sand bottom, left and right peaks, generally small and mushy but occasionally producing lined-up walls on solid NE swells. A good area for longboarding and learning, less crowded than the nearby pier and inlet breaks.
The prime season at Palm 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 Palm Beach include rip currents, jellyfish, boat traffic, crowds during peak swell, sharks. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Palm 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.
