Surf Forecasts:
The South Jetty surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 7s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 9s period, SE swell with 120 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 7s period with SSE 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at The South Jetty in the next 16 days are 0.9m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 5s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The South Jetty over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let's talk about the South Jetty over the next couple of weeks. I’ll keep it simple: it’s mostly flat, weak, and messy, with only a tiny window that might be worth a paddle.
Right off the bat and for almost the whole first week, it’s a tough sit. Through the end of August, the swell barely tops 0.3m to 0.5m, with short periods and choppy wind more often than not. The water temperature is 77°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year. The combined swell energy stays weak—in the single-digit to low double-digit range for the first few days—so there’s just no oomph. Even the glassy Wednesday morning on the 26th, with 0.4m SE swell at 9 seconds, won’t have enough push to surf.
The first hint of hope comes on Monday the 31st of August. The morning shows a 0.9m SSW swell with a long 12-second period, giving a moderate energy reading. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the west, so the surface could be clean. It’s still small and only ordinary at best, but of the whole 16-day run, that’s your best chance to find a rideable wave at the South Jetty.
After that, things go quiet for several days. From the start of September, it’s back to tiny bump and cross-shore winds. Even when the combined energy climbs into the strong range by the 4th of September, the wind is screaming out of the east-northeast at 30 mph, turning the jetty into a kite-surfing zone, not a paddle spot.
The second week doesn’t bring any relief. Swell hangs around 0.6m to 1.0m, but the periods stay short and the winds are moderate to fresh cross-shore, leaving the surface lumpy and rough. The strongest energy hits in the afternoon of the 6th of September, but with 20 mph cross-shore winds and short-period swell, it’s just raw, bumpy power.
So, the takeaway: there’s nothing truly standout in this entire 16-day window. This kind of dry spell is normal for the area. The one morning to pencil in is Monday the 31st of August, if you’re keen and don’t mind tiny, clean waves.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Mon afternoon, min 19°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Warm (max 28°C on Fri afternoon, min 23°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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 12 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 10 | S 5 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | S 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 22 | 21 | 30 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 23 | 36 | 30 | 27 | 52 | 67 | 51 | 40 | 30 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 13 | 27 | 83 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | off | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 6:27PM1.33m | 6:52AM1.03m | 7:11PM1.37m | 7:36AM1.10m | 7:53PM1.41m | 8:18AM1.17m | 8:32PM1.43m | 8:56AM1.24m | 9:09PM1.43m | 9:31AM1.30m | 9:44PM1.40m | 10:06AM1.35m | 10:21PM1.35m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:46AM0.35m | 00:49AM0.30m | 12:33PM0.29m | 1:29AM0.22m | 1:18PM0.23m | 2:05AM0.15m | 2:00PM0.18m | 2:39AM0.10m | 2:40PM0.14m | 3:10AM0.06m | 3:19PM0.12m | 3:42AM0.05m | 3:59PM0.12m | 4:17AM0.06m | |||||||
 | |  | | |  | | | |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — |
 | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 27 | 25 | 22 | 26 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 28 |
Feels °C | 24 | 24 | 25 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 6 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 10 | S 5 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 |
| kJ | 11 | 21 | 30 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 23 | 36 | 30 | 27 | 52 | 67 | 51 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 7 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | E 7 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | S 5 | SSE 6 | E 5 | — | E 12 | — | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | — | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 |
| kJ | 22 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | 3 | — | 36 | 35 | 33 | 17 | 17 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | E 14 | E 6 | — | — | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SE 5 | E 9 | E 10 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 6 | — | — | WSW 2 | — | — | S 5 | S 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SW 5 | — | — | — | — | SSE 6 | SSE 4 | S 4 | S 5 | S 5 |
| kJ | — | 10 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 5 | 16 | 17 | 24 | 29 | — | — | — | — | 17 | 7 | 13 | 27 | 83 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 41 | 58 | 36 | 431 | 487 | 227 | 227 | 284 | 437 | 312 | 309 | 17 | 31 | 32 | 1 | 330 | 941 | 58 | 104 | 276 | 20 |
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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