Belmar - surf spot statistics

Belmar, New Jersey, offers surfable conditions year-round, but the best months for quality waves are generally from late summer to early winter, particularly September through November. During this period, the Atlantic hurricane season can produce more powerful ground swells, with September standing out with 19% ground swell occurrence—the highest of the year—and a mean swell size of 0.8m. Wind conditions, though still challenging (72% bad winds), are slightly better than in winter months. Fall also sees a lower percentage of no-swell days (22% in September), increasing the likelihood of rideable waves. Winter months (December-February) bring more wind swells (50-56%) but suffer from poor wind conditions (over 80% onshore winds), making sessions inconsistent. Spring and early summer (May-July) have the highest frequency of good wind days (26-29%), but the surf tends to be smaller and dominated by wind swells, which lack the power and consistency of fall ground swells. Overall, September is the prime month for surfers seeking larger, cleaner swells, though it requires patience due to still-unfavorable winds. For smaller, more manageable waves with better wind conditions, late spring and early summer (May-July) can provide opportunities, albeit with less size and power.

November in Belmar offers relatively small but surfable conditions, with an average swell height of 0.7m and a decent period of 8.1s, providing some energy for rides. The most consistent swells come from the ESE, E, and SE directions, where waves in the 0.5-1.5m range are frequent, occasionally reaching up to 2.5m. However, larger swells (over 2m) are rare, limiting high-performance days. Wind conditions are only ideal for surfing 20% of the time, with onshore winds (SSW, SW, WSW) being the most disruptive, often blowing at 10-30kph. Offshore or cross-offshore winds (N, NW) are less common but can clean up smaller waves when present. Overall, November is best suited for beginners or longboarders on smaller days, with occasional mid-sized, rideable swells when winds cooperate. Expect mostly knee-to-chest-high waves with the occasional shoulder-high sets.