Surf Forecasts:
Wildwood Crest surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period, ENE swell with 33 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Wildwood Crest this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Wildwood Crest in the next 16 days are 0.9m 5s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 5s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Wildwood Crest over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s coming up for Wildwood Crest. Gotta be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are looking pretty bleak for the most part. We’ve got a real dry spell on the cards, with the first sign of any decent surf almost two weeks away. It’s a long wait, but there’s a glimmer of hope at the very end.
The water temp is sitting at 75.9°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least the wait won't be cold.
The first week and a half is a write-off. From now through the end of August and into the first days of September, it’s all small, weak, and messy. Swells are tiny, barely hitting 1.3 ft to 2.6 ft, with short periods. The wind is mostly cross or onshore, and the combined energy is pathetic, mostly in the 20s and 30s (weak). You’ll see a bit of a bump on the 1st of September with a 3.3 ft to 4.3 ft swell from the east, building energy up to 238 (moderate), but the wind is still cross-onshore, making it sloppy. Not worth the paddle.
Now, for the only real standout. Hold out for the morning of Thursday, 3rd September. That’s when we finally get something. A clean 5.6 ft swell from the east rolling in with a 9-second period and a north-northwest cross-offshore breeze. The combined energy jumps to 602 (strong). This is the real deal. It’s a bit on the bigger side, so it’s more for the experienced crew, but the conditions are clean.
That afternoon on the 3rd looks even better. The wind swings to a light offshore from the northwest, still with that 5.2 ft east swell, energy sitting at 659 (strong). That’s your window. Get on it.
The following morning, Friday 4th September, is a bit of a come-down. The swell drops to 3.3 ft, but the wind goes glassy. The energy is a weak 133 (moderate), but if you’re desperate for a clean, small wave, you could have a go.
So, there you have it. A massive gap of nothing, then one solid day on the 3rd of September. Set your alarms.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 57mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 27°C on Thu afternoon, min 20°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Thu afternoon, light winds from the E by Fri night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 25°C on Sun afternoon, min 20°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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 8 | SSE 5 | NE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | E 3 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SSE 7 | ESE 9 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
18 | 19 | 31 | 28 | 9 | 11 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 18 | 18 | 11 | 11 | 26 | 8 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 2:21PM1.32m | 2:44AM1.00m | 3:27PM1.31m | 3:55AM0.98m | 4:30PM1.34m | 4:57AM1.01m | 5:23PM1.39m | 5:46AM1.07m | 6:08PM1.45m | 6:28AM1.14m | 6:47PM1.50m | 7:05AM1.22m | 7:24PM1.54m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:53PM0.40m | 8:37AM0.37m | 9:59PM0.41m | 9:35AM0.37m | 11:00PM0.39m | 10:33AM0.34m | 11:51PM0.34m | 11:27AM0.29m | 00:34AM0.28m | 12:16PM0.23m | 1:11AM0.21m | 12:59PM0.17m | 1:45AM0.15m | |||||||
— | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | |
7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — | |
mm | 1 | 27 | — | — | 2 | 10 | 12 | 5 | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 26 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 21 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
Feels °C | 26 | 27 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 17 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | ESE 9 | — | SE 4 | ENE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 |
18 | 19 | 5 | 2 | 7 | — | 2 | 17 | 18 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 18 | 18 | 2 | 11 | 26 | 7 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SSE 4 | — | ESE 8 | SSE 4 | ENE 5 | ENE 4 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | S 4 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | — | ESE 9 |
— | 7 | 7 | 8 | 2 | — | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 11 | — | 8 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 6 | E 15 | E 15 | SE 14 | — | SE 13 | ESE 8 | SE 12 | SE 12 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | SSE 5 | S 4 | — | SE 9 | ESE 6 |
— | 1 | 4 | 4 | 8 | — | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 3 | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 3 | NNE 2 | NE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | E 3 | ENE 5 | — | — | — | WNW 3 | WNW 3 | WNW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
9 | 1 | 31 | 28 | 9 | 11 | 17 | — | — | — | 3 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 546 | 546 | 998 | 2614 | 504 | 327 | 28 | 89 | 83 | 95 | 100 | 88 | 88 | 95 | 286 | 546 | 95 | 320 | 344 | 100 |
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.











