Weather and Nature

Wave height in US Northeast

Most recent readings from the ocean buoys in the US Northeast area.

Open ocean buoy data, not spot by spot forecasts. Before paddling out, check local conditions and beach flags.

Wave height

2.5 m

Large (2.5 to 4 m)

GEORGES BANK 170 NM East of Hyannis, MA · 8.2 ft

Period

8 s

10/16/26, 12:50 AM UTC

Water temperature

15.8 °C

BuoyWave heightPeriodWater temperatureWhen
GEORGES BANK 170 NM East of Hyannis, MA (44011)2.5 m8 s15.8 °C12:50 AM
NANTUCKET 54 NM Southeast of Nantucket (44008)1.9 m8 s18.4 °C12:50 AM
VIRGINIA BEACH 64 NM East of Virginia Beach, VA (44014)1.6 m7 s—12:50 AM
Virginia Beach Offshore, VA (171) (44088)1.6 m7 s22.5 °C12:00 AM
Duck FRF 26m, NC (430) (44100)1.6 m6 s21.7 °C12:30 AM
Nags Head, NC (243) (44086)1.5 m6 s22.0 °C12:30 AM
Duck FRF, NC (44056)1.4 m6 s21.5 °C12:30 AM
Cape Henry, VA (147) (44099)1.3 m6 s21.1 °C12:56 AM
Bethany Beach, DE (263) (44084)1.1 m7 s19.6 °C10:26 PM
Barnegat, NJ (209) (44091)0.8 m5 s18.4 °C12:30 AM
Thimble Shoal, VA (240) (44087)0.7 m4 s21.3 °C12:26 AM
LONG ISLAND - 30 NM South of Islip, NY (44025)0.6 m4 s17.6 °C12:40 AM
New York Harbor Entrance - 15 NM SE of Breezy Point , NY (44065)0.6 m10 s18.1 °C12:50 AM
Block Island, RI (154) (44097)0.6 m7 s16.4 °C12:30 AM
Prince Edward Pt (45135)0.6 m3 s14.3 °C01:00 AM
Jonesport, ME - 20 NM SE of Jonesport, ME (44027)0.5 m3 s11.9 °C12:50 AM
BOSTON 16 NM East of Boston, MA (44013)0.4 m5 s14.5 °C12:50 AM
York Spit, VA (44072)0.4 m3 s21.1 °C12:48 AM
Cape Cod Bay, MA (221) (44090)0.4 m5 s15.6 °C12:30 AM
Jeffrey's Ledge, NH (160) (44098)0.4 m9 s12.8 °C12:30 AM
PORTLAND - 12 NM Southeast of Portland,ME (44007)0.3 m8 s12.8 °C12:50 AM
Potomac, MD (44042)0.3 m3 s20.7 °C12:48 AM
Stingray Point, VA (44058)0.3 m14 s21.1 °C12:48 AM
Gooses Reef, MD (44062)0.3 m2 s20.6 °C12:48 AM
Buzzards Bay, MA (260) (44085)0.3 m8 s16.6 °C12:30 AM
Oswego, NY (274) (45215)0.3 m3 s15.9 °C12:56 AM
NANTUCKET SOUND (44020)0.2 m—16.3 °C12:50 AM
Baltimore (44080)0.0 m—20.8 °C12:48 AM

Wave height

RangeWhat it means
Flat (under 0.5 m)
Small (0.5 to 1.2 m)
Medium (1.2 to 2.5 m)
Large (2.5 to 4 m)
Very large (above 4 m)

Choose a region

How to read this page

How to read wave height

The 2.5 m significant height is the average of the tallest third of waves at the buoy, with a 8 s period; occasional waves run close to double that.

Where this data comes from

Live ocean buoy readings from NOAA’s National Data Buoy Center.

NOAA NDBC

What the number doesn’t tell you

The buoy measures a single point; the beach itself can have quite different wave height and shape, from bathymetry and local wind.

Words on this page

Significant wave height

The average of the highest third of waves measured by a buoy over a time window, not the single tallest wave seen. In practice, occasional individual waves reach nearly double that value, which is why surfers and sailors treat significant height as a floor, not a ceiling.

Standard definition by NOAA NDBC — National Data Buoy Center · Significant wave height

Preliminary data

A measurement published as soon as it is collected, before the agency’s final review. It can be corrected or withdrawn: earthquake magnitudes shift in the first hours, air-quality readings are revised weeks later. Use it to plan your day, not for regulatory or legal purposes.

Preliminary data

See the full environment and live data glossary

Data from 10/16/26, 1:00 AM UTC

How to read these numbers

Buoys are listed from the largest wave height down. The time of each reading is in UTC, as the source publishes it.

Frequently asked questions

How is the surf in US Northeast right now?
The table carries the significant height and period for each buoy in the area, with the observation time.
Why does a buoy show no wave height?
Some buoys only measure wind, pressure and temperature. We list only those reporting wave height.

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