Surf Forecasts:
48th Street surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 5s period, S swell with 50 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for 48th Street this week:
The surf forecast for 48th Street over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 2PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 5s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at 48th Street in the next 16 days are 1.0m 5s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for 48th Street over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for 48th Street.
Honestly, the next week or so is a bit of a write-off. We’re looking at a long, bleak stretch of tiny, weak waves and messy wind. From Thursday the 20th right through to the end of August, the swell is barely registering, mostly around 1ft to 3ft, with periods all over the shop and often below 8 seconds. The combined wave energy is weak, often sitting in the 30s and 40s (32 to 89), and the wind is all wrong – cross, cross-on, or straight onshore. There’s a brief moment on Sunday morning the 23rd where it goes glassy, but with a weak 2ft SSE swell and short period, it’s not going to do much. It’s a frustrating run of poor surf conditions, and honestly, for paddle surfing it’s looking more like a kiteboarding stretch.
The real story here starts to build in the first few days of September. It’s not a full-on classic, but it’s the only time in the whole 16-day window that things get interesting. The water is already a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at about 78°.
The first hint of something better is on Tuesday afternoon, the 1st of September. The swell jumps to 5ft from the ENE, with a combined energy of 184 (moderate). The wind is light and cross-offshore from the SSW, which means clean conditions. The period is short at 6 seconds, so it’ll be a bit lumpy and on the messier side, but it’s surfable and the best we’ve seen.
But the pick of the entire forecast is clear: Thursday afternoon, the 3rd of September. The swell bumps up to a solid 5ft to 6ft from the E, with a period stretching to 9 seconds. The combined wave energy rockets up to 882, which is strong and will have some proper push behind it. The wind goes cross-offshore from the NNW with a gentle breeze, so expect clean, well-shaped waves. This is the standout session – a long-awaited pulse of energy with decent conditions. It’s the only day with a proper quality rating in the whole run.
The morning before, Thursday the 3rd, has the same 5ft to 6ft east swell but the wind is cross-shore, making it a bit choppier. Then Friday the 4th settles a bit, with 4ft from the ENE and light cross-offshore wind in the morning, which would be a fun, smaller follow-up session.
So, there you have it. A long dry spell, then a late-week burst of action in early September. Keep an eye on that Thursday afternoon.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 38mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 28°C on Thu afternoon, min 21°C on Fri morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Thu night, calm by Fri night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 27°C on Sun afternoon, min 19°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | S 5 | NE 5 | NE 6 | ENE 5 | ENE 4 | ESE 13 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | S 6 | S 6 | ESE 12 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 18 | 43 | 32 | 36 | 19 | 28 | 17 | 15 | 25 | 32 | 17 | 27 | 34 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 44 | 31 | 13 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross | off | glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 2:22PM1.16m | 2:43AM0.92m | 3:14PM1.14m | 3:41AM0.90m | 4:11PM1.14m | 4:42AM0.92m | 5:07PM1.17m | 5:39AM0.96m | 6:00PM1.22m | 6:29AM1.03m | 6:45PM1.27m | 7:12AM1.09m | 7:25PM1.31m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:55PM0.30m | 8:52AM0.30m | 9:57PM0.29m | 9:53AM0.30m | 10:51PM0.26m | 10:48AM0.27m | 11:39PM0.20m | 11:38AM0.23m | 00:24AM0.15m | 12:25PM0.18m | 1:07AM0.09m | 1:11PM0.14m | 1:47AM0.04m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — |
 | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:38 | — |
mm | — | 13 | — | — | 3 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 7 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 28 | 27 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 27 | 25 | 22 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
Feels °C | 26 | 26 | 20 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 26 | 19 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 22 | 23 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | S 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | ENE 5 | — | ENE 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 11 | S 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 |
| kJ | 18 | 43 | 8 | 4 | 19 | — | 11 | 15 | 25 | 32 | 17 | 15 | 11 | 30 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 44 | 31 | 13 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | — | ESE 8 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NE 5 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | SE 12 | SSE 6 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 |
| kJ | 1 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | — | 13 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 27 | 34 | 6 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 11 | 8 | 9 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 6 | E 7 | E 15 | SSE 4 | — | ESE 13 | E 8 | E 8 | ESE 12 | E 7 | E 7 | N 3 | E 7 | S 6 | S 5 | E 6 | E 7 | SE 11 | ESE 9 |
| kJ | — | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | — | 17 | 10 | 4 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 8 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | — | NE 5 | NE 6 | — | ENE 4 | S 3 | — | — | — | NW 2 | NW 3 | — | — | S 4 | S 4 | — | NNE 3 | NE 3 | — |
| kJ | 13 | — | 32 | 36 | — | 28 | 4 | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | 11 | 9 | — | 1 | 1 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 609 | 609 | 1053 | 2569 | 437 | 261 | 94 | 153 | 148 | 160 | 165 | 21 | 21 | 160 | 348 | 489 | 160 | 358 | 404 | 165 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Maryland | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the 48th Street Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for 48th Street provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at 48th Street can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our 48th Street surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (48th Street) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for 48th Street may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
48th Street is 7 km (4 miles) from Ocean City. If you plan a vacation in Maryland, look for hotels and other accommodation in Ocean City. Ocean City has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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