Florida - East Coast
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Vilano, 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 gentle ENE breeze.
Mon, May 11: 1–2ft, 12s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on ESE swell at 6s with glassy conditions. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 12s period, rated Poor. Expect 1-2ft waves early on ESE swell at 5s. Surf fills in through the day, reaching 3-4ft by afternoon. The NNE wind builds to around 9mph by afternoon.
Wed, May 13: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on ENE swell at 8s with light winds out of the ENE. The ENE wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and poor - fair by then.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on ENE swell at 8s with light winds out of the W. The ENE wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and poor - fair by then.
8s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Vilano is the most powerful wave in the St. Augustine area — a fast, steep shorebreak that bowls and wedges just feet from the sand, sometimes called St. Augustine's answer to Sebastian Inlet. It only works on high tide when water clears the outer bars, producing hollow, pitching barrels over coarse coquina sand. Fickle and unpredictable, but when it's on, it's world-class for the region.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Vilano is 1-2ft with a 8.95s swell period. Wind is ENE at 9mph 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 Vilano is 1-2ft, produced by a 0.9ft ENE primary swell at 6s, a 0.7ft ENE secondary swell at 10s, a 0.7ft NNE tertiary swell at 3s, a 0.8ft ESE wind swell swell at 4s. 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 Vilano is Wednesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 8.25s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Vilano works best with a E 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 Vilano. 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.
Vilano is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to advanced surfers. Vilano is the most powerful wave in the St. Augustine area — a fast, steep shorebreak that bowls and wedges just feet from the sand, sometimes called St. Augustine's answer to Sebastian Inlet. It only works on high tide when water clears the outer bars, producing hollow, pitching barrels over coarse coquina sand. Fickle and unpredictable, but when it's on, it's world-class for the region.
The prime season at Vilano 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 Vilano include powerful shorebreak, strong inlet currents, coarse coquina sand, sharks, rip currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Vilano 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.
