Florida - East Coast
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Ponce Inlet, 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, 9s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with moderate NE wind around 12mph.
Mon, May 11: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with light winds out of the S. Expect the wind to bump up to around 8mph by PM.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 4s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with gentle NW breeze.
Wed, May 13: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 3-4ft with light ENE winds. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
Thu, May 14: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Fair - Good. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on ENE swell at 8s with calm winds. The E wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor - fair by then.
8s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Ponce Inlet's north side features a legitimate right-hand wave peeling off the north jetty of the Ponce de Leon Inlet. It provides longer rides than the NSB side and can handle huge swells. Works at all tides but best at high tide when water gets over the outer bar. One of Florida's most consistently cranking spots, but expect aggressive localism and tense lineups.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Ponce Inlet is 1-2ft with a 8.55s swell period. Wind is NE at 12mph 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 Ponce Inlet is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.2ft NE primary swell at 9s, a 0.7ft ESE secondary swell at 5s, a 0.3ft ESE tertiary swell at 6s, a 1ft N wind swell swell at 2s. 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 Ponce Inlet is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 7.65s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Ponce Inlet works best with a SE swell and SW 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 Ponce Inlet. 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.
Ponce Inlet is a rivermouth with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Ponce Inlet's north side features a legitimate right-hand wave peeling off the north jetty of the Ponce de Leon Inlet. It provides longer rides than the NSB side and can handle huge swells. Works at all tides but best at high tide when water gets over the outer bar. One of Florida's most consistently cranking spots, but expect aggressive localism and tense lineups.
The prime season at Ponce Inlet 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 Ponce Inlet include localism, strong currents, jetty rocks, sharks, boat traffic. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Ponce Inlet 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.
