Surf spot

Plum Island

Forecast conditions and map view for Plum Island in USA, North East, Northern New England. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: USA, North East, Northern New England
Coordinates: 42.7997, -70.8072

Metric
Metric	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00
Wave height (m)	0.1	0.1	0.2	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.4	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.4	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.4	0.5	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.2	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.4	0.4	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.4
Wave direction	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	NE	ENE	NE	ENE	ENE	ENE	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	ESE	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E
Wave period (s)	7.3	7.3	8.3	9	9.2	8.9	8.8	8.4	7.5	7.2	7.7	8.1	8.5	8.6	5.7	2.8	3.1	3	3.2	3.5	3.6	3.8	3.5	3.5	3.5	3.9	4	4.4	5.8	5.5	5.6	5.7	3.6	3.4	3.6	3.9	4	3.8	4.2	4	4	3.8	4	4	4.3	5.3	5.3	5.5	5.4	5.5	5.5	5.5	5.4	5.3	5.3	5.3
Wave energy (kJ)	2	2	3	3	3	3	3	3	4	3	5	5	5	5	3	2	2	2	2	3	6	6	5	4	3	3	3	4	8	6	6	5	3	2	5	6	10	8	9	8	5	3	2	2	3	3	5	4	7	10	11	13	12	12	10	9
Wind speed (km/h)	10.5	12.9	17.1	19.8	16.7	13.5	7.7	8.6	5.6	4.7	2.9	7.9	15.8	16.9	9.7	11.7	5.8	5.9	9.8	5.9	8.5	3.9	4.7	7	12.7	6.6	14.1	17.7	17.8	16.3	11.6	10.3	7.6	10.4	5.4	12	14	16	12.7	15.9	15.1	14.6	15.7	16.3	10.1	3.6	6.3	6.2	4.3	7.3	8.6	15.2	13.3	11.2	10.7	9.7
Wind direction	WOffshore	NWCross-off	NWCross-off	NWCross-off	NWCross-off	NWCross-off	NWCross-off	WNWCross-off	NNWCross	WNWGlassy	WGlassy	SECross-on	ESEOnshore	SECross-on	SCross	SSWCross-off	SSWCross-off	SCross	SSECross-on	SSWCross	SECross-on	NWGlassy	SSEGlassy	SWCross-off	WNWOffshore	NWCross-off	NWCross-off	NWCross-off	NWCross-off	NWCross-off	NWCross-off	NNWCross	NCross	NECross-on	NECross-on	SECross-on	SECross-on	SSECross-on	SCross	SSWCross-off	SSWCross-off	SSWCross-off	SWCross-off	WSWOffshore	WOffshore	WGlassy	WSWOffshore	WSWOffshore	NNWGlassy	NNWCross-off	NNECross-on	NNECross-on	NNECross-on	NECross-on	NECross-on	NECross-on

Plum Island is a scenic, sandbar-driven surf spot on the Massachusetts coast near Newburyport, in the North East / Northern New England surf zone. It’s known more for its raw Atlantic exposure and shifting beachbreaks than for a single, perfectly defined peak.

Quick description

Type: Exposed beachbreak
Wave style: Fast, punchy, and often hollow when conditions line up
Best for: Surfers who can handle changing sandbars and variable conditions
Crowd level: Can be busy, especially when the surf is good and access is easy
Atmosphere: Cold-water New England surf with a rugged, natural feel

What the waves are like

Plum Island usually breaks over sandbars that move with storms and seasons, so the waves can change a lot from week to week. On smaller days it may be weak or mushy, but with the right swell direction and tide, it can produce steep, powerful sections and occasional barrels. Because it’s an exposed stretch of coast, it can pick up plenty of swell, but wind can also quickly ruin it.

Best conditions

Swell: Northeast or east/northeast swell tends to work well
Wind: Light offshore or calm conditions are ideal; onshore winds can make it messy fast
Tide: Tide preference depends on the sandbars, but mid to low tide often brings more shape
Season: Fall and winter generally offer the best consistency and quality, though the water is cold

Hazards and considerations

Cold water: Wetsuit essential for most of the year
Currents: Strong rips and shifting channels are common
Storm exposure: Can get very rough during nor’easters and winter storms
Changing bottom: Sandbars move frequently, so the best takeoff zone can shift

Overall vibe

Plum Island is a classic New England surf beach: beautiful, exposed, and unpredictable. When it’s working, it can offer solid, lively beachbreak surf; when it’s not, it can be messy and soft. It’s best suited to surfers who are comfortable reading changing conditions and dealing with cold Atlantic water.