Surf Forecasts:
Wildwood Crest surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s period, SE swell with 53 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 5AM (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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 7s. 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 0.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Wildwood Crest over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a good hard look at what’s comin’ for the Wildwood Crest region. Gotta be straight with you – this 16-day stretch is about as flat and lifeless as a parking lot puddle. We’re looking at a long, dry gap right out of the gate.
From Monday the 17th all the way through to Monday the 24th, it’s a total write-off. We’re talking ankle-knocker swell, poor conditions, and not a single session worth paddling out for. It’s a solid week-plus of nothing doing. The water temp is a touch warmer than average at 77°, but that doesn’t help the waves none.
Now, around mid-week of the second week, we finally see a little flicker of life. On Monday afternoon, August 24, there’s a pulse of SE swell – 2ft at 12 seconds, with the combined energy hitting a moderate 120. The wind is offshore from the NW at 12 mph, which will clean it right up. It’s still small and ordinary, but it’s the first real chance to get wet. Break is Wildwood Crest – a sandbar setup that’s fairly consistent, exposed to the SE swell. This is the only thing worth mentioning as a standout, but keep your expectations in check; it’s beginner-friendly at this size.
Things get a little more interesting by the end of the run. Friday morning, August 28, sees energy ramping up – combined energy is a strong 315, with a 3ft SE swell coming in at 13 seconds. Wind is cross from the NE at 22 mph, which isn’t ideal, but the swell is building. Later that afternoon, the wind swings to cross-off from the NNE at 19 mph, cleaning it up. That Friday window is your best shot for a bigger, longer-period wave, but it’s still on the small side and winds are chunky.
The final weekend, Saturday August 29 to Sunday August 30, brings more SE/E swell. On Saturday, combined energy is 135 with 2ft at 10 seconds and cross-off wind – clean enough. Sunday morning has a bigger 5ft E swell at 8 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 344, but the wind is cross-on from the south at 9 mph, making it choppy. That’s too much chop for the size. For experts, Sunday might offer a bit more push, but the quality’s not there.
Honestly, the pick of the whole outlook is Monday afternoon, August 24 for the cleanest conditions on the smallest wave, or Friday afternoon, August 28 if you want a bit more size but don’t mind a cross-off breeze. Nothing here is firing, but at least there’s a couple of windows to get wet.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 30°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 32mm), heaviest during Sat morning. Warm (max 28°C on Thu night, min 20°C on Fri afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | SE 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 4 | E 5 | SSE 6 | S 6 | SSE 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
33 | 11 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 18 | 34 | 22 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 12 | 18 | 14 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross | off |
High Tide | 11:44AM1.46m | 11:59PM1.29m | 12:31PM1.41m | 00:46AM1.17m | 1:22PM1.35m | 1:39AM1.06m | 2:21PM1.32m | 2:44AM1.00m | 3:27PM1.31m | 3:55AM0.98m | 4:30PM1.34m | 4:57AM1.01m | 5:23PM1.39m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:56PM0.19m | 6:06AM0.18m | 6:50PM0.29m | 6:51AM0.26m | 7:49PM0.36m | 7:42AM0.33m | 8:53PM0.40m | 8:37AM0.37m | 9:59PM0.41m | 9:35AM0.37m | 11:00PM0.39m | 10:33AM0.34m | 11:51PM0.34m | ||||||||
6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | |
— | 7:52 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | |
mm | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 5 | — | — | 7 | 7 | 7 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 30 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 29 | 31 | 32 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 22 | 19 | 23 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | SE 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 3 | SSE 5 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 5 | SSE 6 | E 4 | SSE 6 |
33 | 11 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 11 | 34 | 22 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 7 | 12 | 1 | 12 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 6 | W 3 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 11 | S 6 | SE 6 | SE 9 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | S 5 | SSE 5 | E 4 | SE 12 | ESE 12 |
— | 7 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 18 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 14 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | S 5 | — | S 3 | E 7 | SE 6 | E 15 | E 15 | SE 14 | SE 14 | SE 13 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 7 | E 7 |
— | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 3 | — | — | — | — | WNW 3 | — | — | S 3 | — | — | SSW 3 | NE 2 | NE 4 | ENE 4 | E 4 | E 4 | S 5 | — | S 6 | NE 4 |
2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 5 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 7 | — | 18 | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 29 | 64 | 29 | 95 | 343 | 45 | 0 | 344 | 378 | 525 | 1450 | 251 | 286 | 89 | 286 | 88 | 88 | 126 | 67 | 45 | 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.











