North Wildwood Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s talk about North Wildwood. The water’s sitting at a balmy 78°F right now, which is about 6°F warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s very unusual, and you’ll definitely feel it on your first duck dive.

Honestly, the next week and a half is pretty flat. We’re looking at a gap from now right through until the end of the week starting 22 September with barely a ripple worth paddling for. The swell energy is low, almost always under 100 (often down around 28 to 61), with tiny little waves and cross-onshore junk. It’s a tough run for surfers through that stretch.

But hold on – things start to change late on Tuesday the 22nd. That morning, we see a jump in combined energy to 308, with a 5ft swell pushing in from the east at 8 seconds. It’s still a bit messy with a cross-shore wind, but you can feel the ocean waking up. Come Wednesday the 23rd, the energy keeps climbing to 517 (moderate) and swell hits 6ft, but the wind is a fresh cross-shore, so it’s lumpy. This is still not great for a paddle board – it’s probably more interesting for the kite surfers at this stage.

Now, the real standout is Thursday the 24th. The morning forecast shows glassy conditions with a 7ft east swell and an 8-second period, but that wave height is right at the edge – at over 8ft later, it's only for the experts. The combined energy is a strong 503, and the wind is a perfect glass-off. That morning is the pick of the whole outlook. It’s clean, it’s got power, and the break (a sandbar at North Wildwood) is set up nicely for that east-southeast swell direction. The only downside: crowds are likely here on a day like that.

Friday the 25th keeps the size big – 8ft with a long 10 to 11-second period, and energy ratings over 1400 – that’s very strong. The wind stays favourable, light cross-shore in the morning and only a light cross-on in the afternoon. But waves this big on a sandbar, with that period, can be a bit straight and challenging. It’s still good fun for experienced locals, but not a day for beginners at all.

The weekend after that, Saturday the 26th, sees the swell dropping back to 6-7ft, but the wind turns onshore again, making it choppy and less inviting. The magic window is definitely Thursday and Friday, with Thursday morning being the true standout – glassy, solid, and clean.

So to sum it up: wait through the dry spell, and get ready for a big pulse of easterly swell starting 22 September. Thursday the 24th morning is your best bet – just don’t expect to have the place to yourself.

Rusty

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