New Jersey
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at St. James, 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 11mph SSE winds.
Mon, May 11: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on SE swell at 7s with moderate NNE wind around 11mph. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with 8mph N winds.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 4s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with 13mph SSW winds.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Poor - Fair. Midday is the call — 2-3ft waves with 12mph from the WNW and poor - fair conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
St. James is a beach break located near the southern end of Absecon Island where the New Jersey coastline curves to face more southward, giving it a unique swell window. The spot picks up S and SSE swells from tropical systems that the east-facing beaches further north miss, producing punchy peaks over shifting sandbars. Northerly winds blow offshore here, making it a good option when the standard NJ beach breaks are getting blown out by NE winds.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at St. James is 2-3ft with a 8.1s swell period. Wind is SSE 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 St. James is 2-3ft, produced by a 0.3ft SE primary swell at 13s, a 0.2ft SE secondary swell at 16s, a 3.6ft SE wind swell swell at 8s. 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 St. James is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 7.35s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
St. James works best with a S swell and N 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 St. James. 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.
St. James is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. St. James is a beach break located near the southern end of Absecon Island where the New Jersey coastline curves to face more southward, giving it a unique swell window. The spot picks up S and SSE swells from tropical systems that the east-facing beaches further north miss, producing punchy peaks over shifting sandbars. Northerly winds blow offshore here, making it a good option when the standard NJ beach breaks are getting blown out by NE winds.
The prime season at St. James 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 St. James include rip currents, shifting sandbars, crowds during summer, cold water. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our St. James 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.
