Surf Forecasts:
Wildwood Crest surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 8s period, E swell with 76 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s period with SE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Wildwood Crest this week:
The surf forecast for Wildwood Crest over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 5s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Wildwood Crest in the next 16 days are 0.8m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Monday (Sep 14) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 5PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Wildwood Crest over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you – this is a tough 16-day stretch for the Jersey shore. We've got a lot of waiting ahead.
The water at Wildwood Crest is running at 77° right now, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least the paddle out won't be a shock to the system.
For the first full week, from Saturday the 12th right through to the end of the following week, there's basically nothing worth getting wet for. We're stuck with tiny dribbles, onshore or cross-shore winds, and weak combined swell energy (mostly under 100). It's all poor surf conditions until we see a glimmer on Sunday the 20th, when a small 2ft easterly swell shows up with a clean cross-off breeze. It's surfable but ordinary – a score of 1 out of 10 tells you all you need. That's the best of a bad bunch for nearly ten days.
The real story, and the only true standout for a surfer who knows what they're doing, hits on Wednesday the 23rd and Thursday the 24th. A solid 7ft to 7ft easterly groundswell (8-10 second period) rolls in, with moderate to strong combined swell energy (580 to 1046). The wind turns cross-offshore from the west, then stiff from the NNW, bringing clean conditions. The problem? That's too big for this sandbar setup. The wave comment backs it up – the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. This is expert territory only. The raw score for those afternoon sessions is an 11, which is as good as it gets, but you have to know what you're doing. The size will push the limits.
After that punch, it drops back down through the last weekend, with a 6ft to 7ft ESE swell on Friday the 25th, but the cross-shore wind and lumpy chop spoil the party for paddle surfing. That setup actually looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
So the summary: hold out for Wednesday the 23rd and Thursday the 24th if you're an expert and can handle a solid 6ft+ clean swell at Wildwood Crest. The rest of the window is a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Warm (max 25°C on Sat night, min 19°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Sun afternoon, fresh winds from the NNW by Mon morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Thu afternoon, min 18°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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 4 | SE 5 | SSE 5 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 6 | E 6 | ESE 12 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 14 | 43 | 15 | 45 | 22 | 29 | 13 | 28 | 33 | 61 | 74 | 58 | 63 | 41 | 26 | 25 | 15 | 13 | 19 | 14 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:21PM1.55m | 9:42AM1.60m | 10:01PM1.45m | 10:22AM1.57m | 10:41PM1.34m | 11:02AM1.51m | 11:21PM1.23m | 11:45AM1.45m | 00:05AM1.12m | 12:32PM1.38m | 00:55AM1.04m | 1:28PM1.32m | 1:58AM0.99m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:09PM-0.01m | 3:26AM0.02m | 3:53PM0.05m | 4:02AM0.08m | 4:36PM0.12m | 4:39AM0.16m | 5:22PM0.21m | 5:18AM0.25m | 6:11PM0.30m | 6:02AM0.33m | 7:07PM0.38m | 6:54AM0.39m | 8:11PM0.43m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  | |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — |
 | 7:13 | — | — | 7:10 | — | — | 7:08 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:06 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:02 | — |
mm | — | 5 | 5 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 |
Temp °C | 23 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 26 | 26 |
Feels °C | 20 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 18 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 24 | 27 | 29 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSE 5 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ENE 5 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | S 6 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 6 | SE 12 | ESE 12 |
| kJ | — | — | 14 | 14 | 22 | 29 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 1 | 74 | 58 | 63 | 41 | 26 | 25 | 15 | 13 | 6 | 14 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 8 | SE 10 | SE 10 | S 4 | E 5 | SE 9 | S 6 | S 6 | — | E 14 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 9 | SE 9 |
| kJ | — | 1 | 15 | 45 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 3 | 1 | — | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 7 | SE 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | S 6 | — | E 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 9 | SE 9 | — | S 5 |
| kJ | — | — | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | — | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 4 | SE 5 | W 2 | SE 5 | — | N 3 | — | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | E 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 3 | — | E 6 | E 4 |
| kJ | 14 | 43 | 1 | 10 | — | 5 | — | 28 | 33 | 61 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 19 | 12 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1141 | 1172 | 31 | 29 | 56 | 67 | 424 | 29 | 594 | 737 | 737 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 27 | 496 | 1039 | 53 | 95 | 286 |
Best forecast wave conditions in New Jersey | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Wildwood Crest Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Wildwood Crest provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Wildwood Crest can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Wildwood Crest 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 (Wildwood Crest) 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 Wildwood Crest 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.
Wildwood Crest is 40 km (25 miles) from Ocean City. If you plan a vacation in New Jersey, 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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