Today's Surf Conditions at North Street
Spot Conditions Map
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Today's Surf & Wind Forecast (Hourly)
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Spot Overview & Description
North Street is a classic sand-bottom jetty break that sits just a stone’s throw from the Ocean City Inlet, making it the first wave you’ll encounter as the swell funnels in. It offers both lefts and rights peeling off either side of the jetty, with the peak breaking closer to shore across the tide range—meaning the action is always within easy reach. As the most consistent spot in the area, it reliably pumps out rideable waves when neighboring breaks go flat, and it often runs a notch bigger, especially on building swell. A go-to for locals and visitors alike, North Street delivers dependable, punchy surf that holds up well across a variety of conditions.
Best Surf Season & Climatology
Best Surf Season (October - March)
The North Atlantic cranks up the energy as autumn deepens, and by October, North Street starts feeling the full force of powerful extratropical storms tracking across the basin. These systems generate long-period swell from the E to SSE quadrant that directly unloads onto this southeast-facing beach. During these months, average swell heights hold steady in the 1.3-1.4m range with periods often pushing into the 7-8s zone, giving you clean, punchy waves. The key is the dominance of offshore winds from the W through NNW—especially strong WNW and NW flows that blow clean and groom the faces. When a low-pressure system stalls off the coast and sends in a solid E/ESE swell under a crisp northwesterly, North Street turns into a well-shaped, rippable machine. Expect consistent surf with frequent firing days.
Fair Surf Season (April & September)
April and September sit as transitional bridges between the peak seasons. April sees the swell average drop slightly to 1.2m, with periods around 7.3s, as the storm track shifts north. Swell direction becomes more variable, with a notable spike in S and SSE energy—still directional to the spot but often accompanied by onshore winds from the same quadrant. The wind ideal percentage dips to 24%. However, when a late-season nor’easter or a passing front aligns a nice E/ESE swell with a NW wind, you get fun, clean waves. September brings a resurgence: average heights climb back to 1.2m, but periods jump to 8.4s, hinting at longer-period groundswells. The wind ideal percentage recovers to 30%, and the frequency of offshore WNW/NW winds increases. It’s a month of potential—you’ll see a mix of smaller summer leftovers and early winter gems.
Low Surf Season (May - August)
Summer settles in with a lazy pulse. From May through August, average swell heights hover around 0.9-1.1m, and periods stay under 7.5s. The dominant swell energy shifts firmly to the SSE and S quadrants—often generated by local sea breezes or distant tropical waves that lack the oomph for this open stretch of coast. While the wind blows offshore (WNW) a decent 27-35% of the time, the wave heights frequently drop below waist-high, making it a groveling session. May can still serve up the occasional fun-size E/ESE swell, but June, July, and August are largely dominated by weak, short-period windswell. The long, sunny days and light winds create a glassy morning window, but expect mostly small, soft waves ideal for longboards and enjoying the water rather than chasing power.
Detailed Surf Information for North Street
Detailed Surf Forecast
Access our detailed 8-day swell and wind forecast charts for North Street with tidal graphs, period ranges, and daily forecast text summaries.
Swell & Wind Statistics
Explore historical swell consistency, wave heights, and offshore wind windows month-by-month, compiled from over 40 years of data.
Historical Surf Report
Browse the historical database archives to view past wave reports and understand spot climatology during specific years and months.
