New Jersey
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at St. James for the cleanest windows.
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.
Wed, Jun 24: 1–1ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1ft and poor with calm winds.
Thu, Jun 25: 1–1ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 1ft and very poor with gentle SW breeze. Expect the wind to bump up to around 13mph by PM.
Fri, Jun 26: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2ft on S swell at 5s with 8mph from the S. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Sat, Jun 27: 1–1ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with moderate ENE wind around 8mph.
Sun, Jun 28: 1–1ft, 10s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1ft and poor conditions with gentle ENE breeze.
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 1ft with a 6.7s swell period. Wind is S at 8mph 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 St. James is 1ft, produced by a 1.9ft SSE primary swell at 7s, a 0.3ft NNE secondary swell at 4s, a 1.2ft SSE 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 St. James is Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 4.95s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
