New York
Best window·Monday 3PM–6PM·3ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Turtle Cove, New York. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Wed, Jun 24: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 2-3ft and mostly poor - fair with barely a breath of wind.
Thu, Jun 25: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on S swell at 8s with light WNW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Fri, Jun 26: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Aim for the middle of the day — 2-3ft on S swell at 5s with 12mph from the SSE. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down. Afternoon wind picks back up so try to get wet before 2pm.
Sat, Jun 27: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 2ft and mostly poor - fair with light WSW winds.
Sun, Jun 28: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 2-3ft waves and poor - fair conditions with moderate NE wind around 10mph.
Turtle Cove (Turtles) is widely considered the best wave in Montauk — a powerful right-hand point/reef break over boulders just west of Montauk Lighthouse. When a proper SE swell hits with NW offshore winds, it produces hollow, tubing waves with rides of 50-300 meters. The shallow boulder reef, strong rip currents, and powerful waves make this strictly for experienced surfers.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Turtle Cove is 2-3ft with a 7.05s swell period. Wind is WSW at 8mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Turtle Cove is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.6ft SSE primary swell at 7s, a 2.1ft SW 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 Turtle Cove is Monday from 3 PM to 6 PM with 3ft waves, a 9.45s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Turtle Cove works best with a SE swell and NW 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 Turtle Cove. 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.
Turtle Cove is a point with a rock bottom, suited to advanced surfers. Turtle Cove (Turtles) is widely considered the best wave in Montauk — a powerful right-hand point/reef break over boulders just west of Montauk Lighthouse. When a proper SE swell hits with NW offshore winds, it produces hollow, tubing waves with rides of 50-300 meters. The shallow boulder reef, strong rip currents, and powerful waves make this strictly for experienced surfers.
The prime season at Turtle Cove 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 Turtle Cove include shallow boulder reef, strong rip currents around point, powerful waves, long paddle out, jellyfish. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Turtle Cove 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.
