Surf Forecasts:
Wildwood Crest surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period, SSE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 5s period, SSE swell with 64 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period with SSE 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 11s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Wildwood Crest in the next 16 days are 1.2m 5s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be 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 Tuesday (Aug 25) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Wildwood Crest over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let’s have a look at what the next couple of weeks are shaping up like for the Wildwood area. I’ll be straight with you – for most of this stretch, the surf is pretty ordinary, so don’t get your hopes up too high. The water temp is sitting about average for this time of year, nothing wild there.
We kick off on Monday, 24 August, and honestly, it’s a flat start. Tiny 1ft swell from the SE with a clean morning, but it’s just not doing anything. That flat spell runs through until Friday morning, 28 August. There’s a bit of a bump on Friday morning with a 2ft SE swell, period around 8 seconds, and a clean cross-offshore wind, but it’s weak combined energy (63) and only described as very ordinary. Not worth rushing out for.
We get another small window on Monday, 31 August. The swell is still tiny at 1ft from the SE, but the period jumps to 18-19 seconds – that’s proper long-period groundswell, which is interesting. The wind is cross-offshore and clean, and we see a combined energy of (75) and (91). But the wave height is so small it’s more of a knee-high glide than a proper surf. Worth a look if you’re desperate, but it’s not going to get your heart racing.
Then, things shift a little into the first week of September. On Tuesday, 1 September, the morning is clean with a 2ft SE swell, 15-second period, and energy reading (186) – moderate. The wind is clean and mostly calm by afternoon. Still knee-high at best, but that long period gives it some shape. It’s at the Wildwood Crest sandbar, a beginner-friendly spot that’s fairly consistent and gets exposed to that SE swell direction. The optimum swell direction here is SE, so this matches up well. It is quite often crowded there, so expect company.
On Wednesday, 2 September, we see a 3ft SE swell in the afternoon with a 14-second period, and energy (268) – that’s a moderate push. But the wind turns onshore and it’s poor quality, so that’s a write-off. However, the standout moment arrives on Thursday, 3 September. Morning starts with a solid 4ft SE swell, 15-second period, and combined energy a hefty (510) – that’s strong energy. The morning has strong offshore winds (40 km/h from NNW) which cleans it right up. By Thursday afternoon, it’s 3ft SE swell, period 14 seconds, energy (379), with a clean offshore wind. This is the best on offer – it’s only for experts though, as the swell is pushing over 3ft and the energy is serious. Beginners should sit this one out. It’s still a sandbar setup, so that long-period swell might make it a bit straight – but with that offshore wind, it’ll be lined up and clean. Standout session.
After that, Friday, 4 September, has a clean morning glass-off on a 2ft ESE swell, 12-second period, energy (151). That’s a nice, mellow session for the weekend crowd – probably busy. Saturday, 5 September, morning has a clean 3ft E swell, 11-second period, energy (291), with a light cross-offshore wind. Good conditions, but again, shallow sandbar and a bit gutless for bigger boards.
From there, it drops right off again. Sunday, 6 September, and Monday, 7 September, are poor – windy, choppy, tiny. The last few days of the forecast are flat and not worth a paddle.
So, to sum it up: the only true standout is the Thursday, 3 September sessions – that’s the one to circle. The first week is lean, the second week has a couple of clean small days but nothing to write home about. For a sandbar, you need a bit more size and punch to get anything proper. If the wind holds on the 3rd, it’ll be the pick of the lot.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sun night, min 20°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Thu night. Warm (max 28°C on Sat afternoon, min 22°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 6 | SE 12 | ESE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 4 | S 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SE 8 | S 6 | S 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
14 | 22 | 13 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 19 | 28 | 48 | 64 | 45 | 35 | 27 | 25 | 18 | 12 | 17 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross | glassy |
High Tide | 5:46AM1.07m | 6:08PM1.45m | 6:28AM1.14m | 6:47PM1.50m | 7:05AM1.22m | 7:24PM1.54m | 7:41AM1.30m | 7:59PM1.57m | 8:17AM1.37m | 8:35PM1.57m | 8:54AM1.44m | 9:11PM1.55m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:51PM0.34m | 11:27AM0.29m | 00:34AM0.28m | 12:16PM0.23m | 1:11AM0.21m | 12:59PM0.17m | 1:45AM0.15m | 1:40PM0.11m | 2:18AM0.10m | 2:20PM0.07m | 2:50AM0.06m | 3:00PM0.05m | 3:24AM0.04m | ||||||
— | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | |
7:43 | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — | — | 7:34 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 28 | 28 |
Feels °C | 25 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 20 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 30 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 12 | SE 9 | S 6 | ESE 8 | S 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 8 |
11 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 19 | 28 | 26 | 3 | 21 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 18 | 12 | 17 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 12 | SE 12 | ESE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 4 | E 6 | SSE 6 | E 6 | E 14 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | SE 8 | E 10 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 6 |
14 | 22 | 13 | 19 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 35 | 2 | 17 | 10 | 10 | 6 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | E 7 | — | E 6 | E 14 | E 6 | — | — | — | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | — | E 9 | E 9 |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 3 | — | — | — | NW 3 | W 2 | W 2 | — | S 5 | S 4 | S 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | — | S 6 | — | — | — | — |
1 | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 28 | 48 | 64 | 45 | — | 26 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 29 | 67 | 115 | 67 | 88 | 95 | 286 | 286 | 343 | 143 | 251 | 1165 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 29 | 334 | 95 |
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.











