🇺🇸 SALISBURY, MASSACHUSETTS
Salisbury Beach
Long open beach break on the Massachusetts north shore
FLAT
Live Conditions
Conditions Summary
Small 1.5ft surf — but short 4s period indicates wind swell, expect choppy conditions — from a workable direction — cross-onshore wind affecting quality
HIGH CONFIDENCEFresh buoy data + calibrated transformation
Why it's FLAT
Swell Direction
Primary swell is 91° — matches the ideal 80° window for this spot
Swell Period
4s — this is wind chop, not groundswell. Waves will be weak and disorganized.
Wind
11mph cross-shore — not ideal but surfable if wind is light
Tide
Rising tide — workable window
Season
September is peak season for this spot
Data Confidence
Fresh buoy data with calibrated coastal transformation
At the Break
1.5ft
HIGH CONFIDENCE
Fresh buoy data + calibrated transformation
Period
4s
✗ Wind swell
Wind
11mph
S
CROSS-SHORE
Water
66°F
Spring suit
Live Buoy 44013
2.0ft
4s
71 min ago
Tide
MID-TIDE · RISING
9.4ft
Next high: in 1 hr 37 min
Swell Direction
70%
Wind Direction
45%
Primary Swell
1.2ft @ 3.4s
ESE 122°
Secondary Swell
0.7ft @ 8.6s
ESE 104°
10 Day Outlook
3.3ft
TODAY
Sep 10
(9s)
3.2ft
TMRW
Sep 11
(10s)
1.7ft
SAT
Sep 12
(10s)
1.9ft
SUN
Sep 13
(10s)
2.8ft
MON
Sep 14
(10s)
1.8ft
TUE
Sep 15
(9s)
3.0ft
WED
Sep 16
(10s)
2.5ft
THU
Sep 17
(14s)
3.4ft
FRI
Sep 18
(10s)
3.3ft
SAT
Sep 19
(6s)
Best this week: SAT Sep 12 — 1.7ft
Best next week: FRI Sep 18 — 3.4ft
Model Breakdown
ECMWF (45%)1.9ft
ICON (35%)2.1ft
GFS (20%)2.6ft
Model confidence80%
Updated every 30 mins · Open-Meteo ECMWF + ICON + GFS
About
Salisbury Beach is a straightforward exposed beach break running along the mouth of the Merrimack River. The long sand beach offers peaks up and down its length, with the best waves typically forming on the sandbars created by river sediment near the northern end. Consistent but sensitive to wind — needs clean offshore or light cross to show its best.
The Break
Salisbury Beach — exposed beach break. Peaks shift daily with the sandbars.
Ideal Conditions
E/NE swell 3-8ft, offshore W/SW wind, mid tide
Best Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Best months highlighted · Current: Sep
Trip Planner
North Shore Weekend
Weekend · 3 Days
Saturday
Drive from Boston (1 hr). Dawn patrol at Salisbury Beach. Explore the rivermouth sandbars at the north end.
Sunday
Morning session, grab breakfast in Salisbury center, head home.
New England North Shore Week
Full Week · 7 Days
Day 1
Arrive Boston, drive north to Salisbury. Afternoon session.
Day 2
Dawn patrol. Explore Hampton and Seabrook to the north.
Day 3
Chase best banks. Full surf day.
Day 4
Session, visit Newburyport for dinner.
Day 5
Final morning session, return to Boston.
Local Knowledge
01
Plenty of free parking outside of summer. Water temperature and exposure both brutal in winter — full 5/4 wetsuit with hood and gloves.
Best Window
Day 9 · Sep 18
3.4ft @ 10s
GOOD
Trip Cost Estimate
Flights from NYC~$0
Hotel per night~$130
Weekend est.~$390
5 day est.~$650
Week est.~$910