Massachusetts
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Salisbury, 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: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with moderate SSW wind around 13mph.
Mon, May 11: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with 7mph from the WNW. Expect the wind to bump up to around 13mph by PM.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with light NW winds.
Wed, May 13: 0–1ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with calm winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 14mph.
Thu, May 14: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Expect 0-1ft waves early on ESE swell at 10s.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Salisbury offers accessible beach breaks along Massachusetts's North Shore, with consistent sandbars that peel nicely during Eastern swells. The westward-facing beach catches Atlantic energy well during fall and winter months, providing fun, manageable waves perfect for building skills. This is a classic New England beach break that works best at mid to high tide when the sandbars are properly shaped.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Salisbury is 1-2ft with a 8.55s swell period. Wind is SSW 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 Salisbury is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.6ft ESE primary swell at 9s, a 1ft SE secondary swell at 6s, a 0.3ft ESE tertiary swell at 13s, a 1.7ft SE 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 Salisbury is Friday from 1 PM to 4 PM with 3ft waves, a 8.65s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Salisbury 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 Salisbury. 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.
Salisbury is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Salisbury offers accessible beach breaks along Massachusetts's North Shore, with consistent sandbars that peel nicely during Eastern swells. The westward-facing beach catches Atlantic energy well during fall and winter months, providing fun, manageable waves perfect for building skills. This is a classic New England beach break that works best at mid to high tide when the sandbars are properly shaped.
The prime season at Salisbury 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 Salisbury include cold water, strong currents, rocks at beach ends, crowded on weekends. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Salisbury 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.
