Surf Forecasts:
The South Jetty surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 22 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 9s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 22 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 8s period, S swell with 458 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 18 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 6s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The South Jetty this week:
The surf forecast for The South Jetty over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 9s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at The South Jetty in the next 16 days are 1.9m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 19) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The South Jetty over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break down what we’ve got here for the South Jetty.
Truth is, it’s been a pretty flat and messy run. The water’s warm, hitting 77°F, which is about 4°F warmer than what’s normal for this time of year. That’s a sign of the summer heat, but it doesn’t help the surf.
From Saturday the 18th through the end of July, it’s a real battle. Most of the swells are weak, short-period windswell with onshore or cross-onshore winds. The combined energy is mostly in the double digits, rarely cracking 100. The only real glimmer in the first week is Wednesday morning, July 22nd. You’ll see a 6ft south swell at 8 seconds, with a clean cross-offshore wind from the WSW. The energy jumps to 705 – that’s moderate. It’s still a short period, but the wind is good. It’s marked as “marginal,” but if you’re really jonesing, that’s your best early shot.
The only true standout is Friday morning, July 31st. That’s about a week and a half out, so don’t book the day off just yet, but it looks promising. We’re looking at a 6ft east-northeast swell with an 8-second period, combined energy of 546 (moderate), and the wind is forecast to be glassy – calm from the north at 3 mph. That’s as clean as it gets for a beach and jetty setup. The jetty can grab that swell and make it peaky. Just be ready for a crowd, because when it’s good, everyone knows.
Thursday morning the 30th also has a moment: glassy conditions with a 4ft, 7-second swell, but the energy is lower at 182 and it’s just “surfable but very ordinary.”
After the 31st, it falls apart again. The first of August is onshore and tiny, and the second of August has a weird 0.7ft, 12-second period swell, but it’s directly onshore with only 31 energy. That’s a paddling session, not a surfing one.
So, the story is clear: the first ten days are a write-off. Focus on Friday morning, July 31st. That’s your window for clean, head-high waves with perfect glass. The rest? Not worth the drive.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 31mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 27°C on Sat afternoon, min 20°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Sat afternoon, calm by Sun afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 18°C on Thu morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Tue night, calm by Thu night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 5 | S 6 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 4 | S 7 | S 8 | S 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | S 8 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 83 | 92 | 45 | 38 | 26 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 29 | 30 | 200 | 458 | 305 | 280 | 122 | 133 | 42 | 36 | 46 | 60 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 00:19AM1.34m | 1:00PM1.27m | 1:08AM1.22m | 1:49PM1.26m | 1:55AM1.11m | 2:39PM1.23m | 2:47AM1.01m | 3:34PM1.22m | 3:48AM0.94m | 4:31PM1.23m | 4:50AM0.91m | 5:23PM1.25m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:56PM0.10m | 6:33AM0.02m | 6:54PM0.19m | 7:20AM0.09m | 7:50PM0.27m | 8:04AM0.18m | 8:47PM0.34m | 8:50AM0.25m | 9:50PM0.37m | 9:42AM0.30m | 10:52PM0.37m | 10:35AM0.32m | 11:46PM0.35m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  | | |  |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — |
 | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:16 | — |
mm | 3 | 27 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 23 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 |
Feels °C | 26 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 27 | 23 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 18 | 18 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 13 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | NE 4 | — | — | — | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | S 8 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 3 | 7 | 45 | 38 | 26 | 15 | 16 | 1 | — | — | — | 247 | 147 | 280 | 122 | 133 | 42 | 36 | 46 | 60 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 13 | E 8 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SSE 8 | ENE 3 | E 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 7 | S 7 | SSE 7 | SE 6 | ESE 8 |
| kJ | 7 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 39 | 16 | 16 | 8 | 39 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | — | — | — | NE 4 | SE 12 | SE 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 8 |
| kJ | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | 6 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 42 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | S 6 | — | WNW 3 | — | — | — | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 4 | S 7 | S 8 | S 8 | — | — | SSE 8 | — | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | E 5 |
| kJ | 83 | 92 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 13 | 29 | 30 | 200 | 458 | 305 | — | — | 112 | — | 14 | 25 | 23 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3211 | 82 | 6 | 1 | 36 | 211 | 311 | 331 | 771 | 1164 | 183 | 32 | 17 | 140 | 33 | 284 | 0 | 59 | 69 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in New Jersey | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the The South Jetty Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for The South Jetty provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at The South Jetty can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our The South Jetty 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 (The South Jetty) 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 The South Jetty 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.
The South Jetty is 4 km (2 miles) from Atlantic City. If you plan a vacation in New Jersey, look for hotels and other accommodation in Atlantic City. Atlantic City has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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