Palm Beach, FL Surf Forecast (2024)

FAQs

How big are the waves at Palm Beach? ›

Windguru is a comprehensive wind and weather forecast site that offers reports for locations all around the world. Simply select the region you want and Windguru will display a comprehensive graph detailing everything from swell size and direction, wind gusts, sea temperature and everything else in between.

Surf reports, like weather reports, are not always 100% accurate, as they constantly change based on the weather conditions.

Sited alongside stunning, high dollar real estate, Palm Beach's Reef Road is one of the few places in the state where the surf can achieve true "big wave" status, maxing out at 15 feet. It's known by many as the best surfing in Florida. Here's a guide to surfing there.

the ocean fetch

On the West Coast, the prevailing winds are behind the waves, which increases the waves' energy. On the East Coast, the prevailing winds blow against the incoming waves, decreasing the waves' energy.

Now, how this affects surfing?… Well, every break has it's favored tides, which is mainly due to the bathymetry of that specific break. However, usually most spots favor a 'low going high' or when the tide is on the rise, 'filling in'. This is the believed “tidal push” which may help the forward momentum of waves.

High tides are great if you're headed towards a reef break. The only exception is if it's near a bluff, in which case the waves rarely break before hitting land. Conversely, medium to low tides are better if you're surfing near a beach break.

“In general, the best surfing conditions can be found during winter months, in each respective hemisphere, when the waves tend to get bigger and the swells are more reliable. Summer months are usually less consistent and with smaller waves,” Drughi said. The surf season can change with each location.

Generally speaking the perfect size for beginners is 1 to 2ft. For intermediates: 2-4ft waves are best as it gives you more face of the wave to progress your skills on. You should keep an eye on the 'Swell Period', because it's a lot more indicative of the actual wave size (see the next point).

Is a 6 foot wave big? ›

Thus, a "3-foot" wave is roughly six feet high (in actuality a height of ~1.8 m), i.e., head-high to a 6-foot (~180 cm) person; a "2-foot" wave is roughly four feet high (height of ~1.2 m), i.e., chest-high to such a person; and a "6- to 8-foot" wave would be 2 to approaching 3 times head-high to such a person (height ...

But generally for surfing, you want light offshore winds under 15mph for clean, groomed waves. Anything more than that (say, a gusty offshore wind over 25mph) will make it harder to paddle into waves and, on weaker swells, harder to generate speed on the waves.

Early Morning: Many surfers prefer to hit the waves early in the morning, typically around sunrise. During this time, the wind is often calm or offshore, creating clean and glassy conditions. Additionally, the crowds are usually smaller, providing a more peaceful and enjoyable surfing experience.

6 to 8 second period: Typically caused by regional wind swells. Some characteristics include more organised waves, more power, and better-shaped waves. 10 to 16 second period: Commonly called groundswells. These swells are generated at a considerable distance from the coast by powerful storms.

HALF MOON BAY, Calif.

– The shape of the California coastline, in combination with a rock formation about 20 miles south of San Francisco, can lead to surf reaching nearly 60 feet high that's known by locals as the Maverick waves.

South Pointe on South Beach

You will find the strongest waves at the South Pointe Park, just before the pier, which is also known for decent fishing. This is a surf hotspot for both tourists and locals, which is why the place may be crowded.

The waves range from 0.5 to almost 2 metres with an average length or ride ranging from 35m to 85m depending on the wave and skill of the surfer. The average duration of a ride is 10-13 seconds.

Palm Beach County offers many great surf spots with fun waves and good surf breaks. The top surf spots in Palm Beach include the Juno Beach Pier, Marcinski, Coral Cove Park, and Hobe Sound Beach, which are popular with longboarders and shortboarders.