Florida Atlantic Coast surf hub
Florida Atlantic Coast surf buoys and coastal conditions
Florida's Atlantic coast links Northeast Florida, New Smyrna and the southern coast through a shared but highly variable storm and swell window. Compare the regional signal before treating it as a local beach report.
How to read this coverage
This page brings together surf, swell and wave conditions for Florida Atlantic Coast surf buoys and coastal conditions. SwellOracle separates real instrument observations from marine model points so you can understand what you are seeing before making a decision. Current coverage includes 5 recent observations and 0 model points; availability can vary by source and update time.
- Check the timestamp and source before comparing readings.
- Combine height, period and direction with your coastline orientation.
- Use models as context, not as an automatic substitute for a real buoy.
Read wind swell, tropical systems and tide together
Short-period wind swell and tropical systems can change conditions quickly. Compare buoy timestamp, wave height, period and direction, then check local wind, tide, sandbars and official tropical warnings.
Always check the reading time, source and official marine warnings before entering the water.
Available coverage
Latest regional observation:
History is enabled gradually when reusable, correctly identified observations are available. Models and references without a stored series keep their own page, but do not show historical charts.
Reference tides
Check predicted high- and low-tide times for the reference port station.
Source: Local port tide service. Times refer to the reference station and may differ from a nearby beach. Open source
Beaches to compare
Use this table as local context: the same buoy can translate differently depending on exposure, shelter and bottom.
| Beach | Exposure | Break | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville Beach | E / NE | Beachbreak | Florida Atlantic Coast |
| St. Augustine Beach | E / NE | Beachbreak | Florida Atlantic Coast |
| New Smyrna Beach | E / NE | Beachbreak | Florida Atlantic Coast |
| Ponce Inlet | E / NE | Beachbreak | Florida Atlantic Coast |
| South Florida beaches | E / NE | Beachbreak | Florida Atlantic Coast |
Visual check and warnings
Complete the table with a local visual check and official warnings before entering the water.
Regional buoy and conditions table
Compare every station included in this hub by timestamp, source, height, period and direction. Physical stations and models are labelled separately.
| Reference | Source | Updated | Height | Period | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Canaveral Nearshore, FL (143)Physical station | NOAA/NDBC | 2026-07-20T21:56:00 UTC | 2.3 ft (0.7 m) | 4 s | SE |
| Hollywood Beach, FL (265)Physical station | NOAA/NDBC | 2026-07-20T22:00:00 UTC | 2.3 ft (0.7 m) | 4 s | SE |
| Offshore Fernandina Beach, FL (132)Physical station | NOAA/NDBC | 2026-07-20T21:56:00 UTC | 3 ft (0.9 m) | 5 s | — |
| Ponce de Leon Inlet Waves (PNCWAVE)Physical station | NOAA/NDBC | 2026-07-20T22:03:00 UTC | 2.6 ft (0.8 m) | 4 s | ESE |
| St. Augustine, FL (194)Physical station | NOAA/NDBC | 2026-07-20T21:56:00 UTC | 2.3 ft (0.7 m) | 4 s | — |
No numeric difference is calculated when either source has no reading.
Buoy and history FAQs
What buoy information is available for Florida Atlantic Coast surf buoys and coastal conditions?
The published catalog includes 5 physical or reference stations and 0 model points for this region. Each source identifies its provider, location, data type and history status so observations are not mixed with estimates.
Why do some buoys have no historical charts?
Charts appear only when SwellOracle has a stored series of reusable, correctly identified observations. A station can keep its information page even when there is not yet a sufficient series for a chart.
What is the difference between a physical buoy and a marine model?
A physical buoy or station represents instrument measurements. A marine model estimates conditions at a grid point. Use observations as local confirmation and models as spatial context rather than treating them as equivalent sources.
How should swell height, period and direction be interpreted?
Read all three variables together: height describes the size of the signal, period helps explain its energy and direction shows where it comes from. Coastline shape, depth and local exposure can change what reaches the beach.
Keep tracking your buoys without missing a reading
Open the map, save your favorite buoys and get more context when you decide when to check conditions.
Practical takeaway
Use Florida Atlantic observations as regional evidence, not as a substitute for local beach conditions.