The South Jetty Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.39° N 74.39° W

The South Jetty Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 am 28 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The South Jetty sea temperature is
24.3° C
1.1° 

The South Jetty surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


The South Jetty surf forecast from 28 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 29 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period, SSE swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period, S swell with 121 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 29 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s 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 Wednesday (Jul 29) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at The South Jetty in the next 16 days are 1.1m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 11PM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Wed 29th Jul)3ft (0.9m) 6s
Best Surf 8AM (Wed 29th Jul)3ft (0.9m) 6s
Most Powerful 5PM (Mon 3rd Aug)3.5ft (1.1m) 7s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for The South Jetty over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, it’s Rusty here. Let’s get real about the South Jetty. We’ve got a 16-day window, and I gotta be honest with you – the first few days are a bit of a write-off. We’re looking at a gap of just over a week before things start to look even remotely interesting. From the 28th of July through to the 3rd of August, it’s mostly small, messy, and cross-onshore. Don’t bother checking the cam until later.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Wednesday morning, July 29th. The South Jetty is looking at a glassy surface with the wind dropping to nothing. Swell is a tiny 3ft from the SE with a period of 7 seconds. The combined wave energy is weak, at 96. It’s surfable, but it’s ordinary. The water temp is 76°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. Not a standout, but it’s the first clean look we get.

The better option in that early window is Thursday morning, July 30th. The wind goes offshore from the NW at 15 km/h, cleaning up a 2ft SE swell. The period is 8 seconds, and the energy is a weak 63. It’s small, but clean. If you’re desperate for a paddle, that’s your window.

Then we hit the doldrums again. From Friday morning through to Monday morning, the 3rd of August, it’s a mix of onshore junk and tiny, weak swells. A few of those mornings, like the 3rd of August, have glassy conditions, but the swell is only 2ft from the SSE. The energy is low at 83. It’s a surfable wave, but it’s not going to get the heart pumping. It’s a classic “if you’re in the water anyway” kind of deal.

The one true standout, and I mean the only one worth circling on the calendar, is the afternoon of Monday, August 3rd. The South Jetty gets a bump of energy, with a 4ft swell from the south. The combined energy climbs to 160, which is moderate. The period is just 7 seconds, so it’s a bit of a windswell, but the size is there. The catch? The wind is cross-onshore from the south at 15 km/h, making it choppy. It’s not perfect, but it’s the biggest, most energetic swell of the entire 16-day run. If you’re an expert who doesn’t mind a bit of texture, this is the session.

After that, it’s back to the desert. From the 4th of August onward, the swell drops back to tiny 1.0ft to 3ft junk, mostly with cross-on or onshore winds. The 11th of August afternoon shows a 4ft swell from the ENE, but it’s cross-onshore and choppy at 20 km/h. The energy is 151, so there’s some push, but the wind ruins it. The 12th of August is the same story – small, onshore, and not worth the drive.

Overall, the South Jetty is a beach and jetty setup, and with the onshore winds and small, short-period swells, it’s a tough call. The crowds are sometimes there, but with this quality, you’ll likely have it to yourself. For the kite surfers, the afternoon of August 3rd with the 4ft south swell and cross-onshore breeze might actually look more interesting than for a paddle surfer.

That’s the long and short of it. Not a classic run, but the forecasts can change. Keep the wax handy.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 25°C on Tue morning, min 19°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Tue afternoon, calm by Wed morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sun afternoon, min 20°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
Sunday
2
Monday
3
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SE
8
1
S
4
1.1
SSE
6
1
SE
7
0.9
SE
7
0.7
SE
7
0.6
SE
8
0.6
SSE
8
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SSE
8
0.4
SSE
8
0.4
SSE
8
0.4
SSE
7
0.5
S
7
0.6
S
4
0.3
SSE
6
0.6
S
4
0.4
SE
7
0.7
SSE
7
1.1
S
7
0.8
SSE
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
16
40
74
91
77
56
54
39
21
25
22
25
18
25
11
8
10
15
46
121
56
Wind (km/h)
20
SSW
30
S
15
SW
0
WNW
5
ESE
15
NW
15
NW
10
NE
10
NNW
15
NE
10
ESE
5
S
5
S
20
S
15
SSW
20
SSE
25
S
15
SSE
5
SE
15
S
10
W
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross
glassy
glassy
off
off
cross
off
cross
on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
8:07AM1.01m
8:23PM1.40m
8:49AM1.05m
9:02PM1.41m
9:27AM1.10m
9:38PM1.41m
10:03AM1.13m
10:12PM1.39m
10:38AM1.16m
10:46PM1.34m
11:15AM1.20m
11:24PM1.29m
11:56AM1.24m
00:08AM1.22m
Low Tide
1:43PM0.21m
2:41AM0.14m
2:24PM0.18m
3:15AM0.11m
3:01PM0.17m
3:46AM0.09m
3:38PM0.17m
4:18AM0.08m
4:16PM0.19m
4:52AM0.09m
5:00PM0.21m
5:30AM0.10m
5:52PM0.24m
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
part cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:52
5:54
5:54
5:56
5:56
5:56
5:58
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:14
8:13
8:12
8:10
8:09
8:08
8:07
 mm
1
1
6
2
1
1
2
Temp °C
25
25
24
23
24
24
22
22
22
23
23
22
24
24
23
25
26
25
25
26
24
Feels °C
25
24
23
26
27
27
21
22
24
22
24
22
25
23
23
25
25
26
28
28
25
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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