Wildwood Crest Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.97° N 74.82° W

Wildwood Crest Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 pm 10 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Wildwood Crest sea temperature is
25.2° C
1.5° 

Wildwood Crest surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Wildwood Crest surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 7s period, S swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 6s period, S swell with 237 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 7s period with S 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 Monday (Aug 17) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 7s period. 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 1.8m 6s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 5PM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11AM (Mon 17th Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 7s
Best Surf11AM (Mon 17th Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 7s
Most Powerful 2AM (Mon 17th Aug)6ft (1.8m) 6s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Wildwood Crest over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a real honest look at the next couple of weeks. I gotta tell ya, it’s gonna be a long wait for anything worth paddling out for.

We’re looking at Wildwood Crest in New Jersey here, a sandbar setup that’s pretty consistent but mostly exposed to the south-east. Right off the bat, the water temp is 77°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – nice for the skin, but that’s about the only highlight for a while.

The first week is basically a write-off. From Monday the 10th right through to the end of the weekend on the 16th, we’re scraping by with tiny, weak swell. Sizes are barely breaking 2 ft, the period is short and gutless, and the combined energy is laughably low (mostly under 20). Winds are all over the place, but the waves just aren't there to work with. You’ll be sitting on your board with nothing to ride. It’s a real bummer to start.

We finally see a pulse of life come Monday the 17th. The morning is still messy with a moderate cross-shore chop on a 4 ft south swell, but the afternoon is where it gets interesting. That wind swings to a light cross-offshore from the WNW, cleaning things right up. The swell bumps up to 4 ft from the south with a period of 6 seconds, and the combined energy hits 127 – that’s moderate, real wave energy. The water will be clean, but those waves are still short-period, a bit soft and crumbly. Not a standout on quality, but it’s the first sign of life.

Then Tuesday the 18th morning is a real tease. We get a glassy, offshore wind from the NNW, and the swell is a *long* 15 second period from the SE. That’s proper groundswell energy. It’s only 1 ft, so it’s tiny, but the period will push in a few lined-up sets, especially if you can find a sandbar that focuses that energy. A long-period swell like that can be straight and hard to catch on a beach break, but it’s the best shape we’ve seen all week.

The real standout, the only session I’d circle on your calendar, comes later. Let’s jump to Monday the 24th of August. Both morning and afternoon see a solid 4 ft to 5 ft swell from the ESE, with a period pushing up to 8 seconds and combined energy roaring at 198. That’s moderate-strong energy, the kind that thumps. Now, the wind is a fresh onshore all day, so it will be lumpy and choppy – not clean for a performance board. But if you’ve got a groveler and you just want to get some waves under your feet, that’s the most size and push on offer in the whole 16 days.

Tuesday the 25th fades back into messy, wind-affected junk with that onshore flow.

To be dead straight with you: this is a rough run for Wildwood Crest. There are no sessions where the stars truly align for perfect, clean shoulder-high surf. The brief Tuesday the 18th morning session is the most *interesting* for the purity of the swell, and the Monday the 24th is the most *powerful*. If you’re desperate, go for the 24th morning. If you want clean but tiny lines, try the 18th morning.

Stay patient, and keep an eye on that forecast. These sandbars can change quick.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Mon night. Warm (max 30°C on Tue afternoon, min 22°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Thu night, min 19°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Sat night, fresh winds from the S by Sun afternoon).

Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
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
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
S
6
0.3
SSE
6
0.3
SSE
6
0.3
S
4
0.3
S
5
0.4
SSW
5
0.4
S
4
0.3
S
4
0.3
S
4
0.1
E
13
0.4
SSE
4
0.4
SSE
6
0.4
SSE
7
0.3
SSE
7
0.3
SSE
7
0.3
SSE
7
0.2
SSE
6
0.6
S
3
1.8
S
6
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
16
6
6
3
5
10
4
3
3
3
7
13
18
10
10
9
4
7
237
Wind (km/h)
10
W
15
W
10
WNW
20
W
10
N
10
WSW
25
SSW
15
NW
15
WNW
15
W
15
NNW
25
NW
25
N
15
N
10
W
15
SW
15
S
30
S
40
SSW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
High Tide
6:57AM1.31m
7:25PM1.80m
7:50AM1.39m
8:15PM1.80m
8:40AM1.46m
9:03PM1.75m
9:28AM1.50m
9:49PM1.67m
10:15AM1.51m
10:33PM1.56m
10:59AM1.50m
11:16PM1.43m
Low Tide
1:02AM0.01m
12:53PM-0.05m
1:52AM-0.05m
1:48PM-0.09m
2:38AM-0.09m
2:39PM-0.09m
3:21AM-0.09m
3:28PM-0.06m
4:02AM-0.05m
4:16PM0.01m
4:43AM0.01m
5:05PM0.09m
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
rain showers
clear
rain showers
rain showers
clear
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:07
6:09
6:09
6:11
6:11
6:13
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:00
7:59
7:58
7:57
7:55
7:53
7:52
 mm
8
1
1
5
1
1
2
1
Temp °C
28
25
30
29
23
27
26
25
28
28
25
27
27
21
25
25
23
24
26
Feels °C
30
27
33
33
25
28
26
27
28
29
22
24
24
17
22
24
21
20
23
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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 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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