Space Coast Surf Report

COCOA BEACH · SATELLITE BEACH · MELBOURNE BEACH · SEBASTIAN INLET

Know when
to go.

Size, period, swell direction, wind and tide—translated into the quick call Space Coast surfers need before burning daylight and gas.

Make the call →See the trends
Small clean Atlantic waves and a distant surfer on Florida’s Space Coast
DATA NOTECurrent protected NOAA/NWS cache · checked Oct 17 · 1:44 pm Eastern. This is model guidance, not an eyeball report.

THE CALL · CENTRAL SPACE COAST

Marginal but rideable: thigh to waist high

The fast read first, followed by the numbers underneath it. Sandbars, tide, exposure and local wind still make the final call.

SATELLITE BEACH · SESSION CALL

Marginal but rideable
2.0FT

thigh to waist · NW at 8 sec

Short-period, locally generated lines

BOARD CALLFish, groveler or longboard
Modeled nearshore height is not a measured breaking-wave face. The lineup always gets the final vote.
Swell directionNWNOAA Buoy 41009 observation
Period8 secShort-period windswell
WindNNW 18 mphcross-shore on an east-facing coast
Next tideLow 7:45 PM · 1.5 ftCocoa Beach reference station

NEXT 18 HOURS

The setup is building.

Look for the overlap between usable size, a little more period, lighter wind and the tide your break likes.

MODELED NEARSHORE

Wave height

2.0 ft
1 pm2.0 ft4 pm3.0 ft7 pm5.0 ft10 pm6.0 ft1 am7.0 ft4 am8.0 ft7 am8.0 ft

SWELL ORGANIZATION

Wave period

8 sec
1 pm8 sec4 pm4 sec7 pm5 sec10 pm6 sec1 am6 sec4 am7 sec7 am7 sec

COASTAL WIND

Wind speed

18 mph
1 pm18 mph4 pm26 mph7 pm29 mph10 pm31 mph1 am31 mph4 am31 mph7 am30 mph

COCOA BEACH · NOAA

Tide curve

3.9 ft
1 pm3.9 ft4 pm2.9 ft7 pm1.5 ft10 pm2.0 ft1 am3.0 ft4 am2.4 ft7 am1.3 ft

NORTH TO SOUTH

Which stretch deserves the drive?

The regional model narrows the search. Local sandbars, exposure, crowd and wind still decide the session.
BREAK ZONEREGIONAL MODELWINDCALLBOARD
Cape Canaveral2.0 ft · thigh to waistregional cue; verify locallyNNW 18 mphcross-shoreShort-period, locally generated linesFish, groveler or longboard
Cocoa Beach2.0 ft · thigh to waistregional cue; verify locallyNNW 18 mphcross-shoreShort-period, locally generated linesFish, groveler or longboard
Satellite Beach2.0 ft · thigh to waistregional cue; verify locallyNNW 18 mphcross-shoreShort-period, locally generated linesFish, groveler or longboard
Melbourne Beach2.0 ft · thigh to waistregional cue; verify locallyNNW 18 mphcross-shoreShort-period, locally generated linesFish, groveler or longboard
Sebastian Inlet2.0 ft · thigh to waistregional cue; verify locallyNNW 18 mphcross-shoreShort-period, locally generated linesFish, groveler or longboard

READ THE SETUP

Four numbers. One smarter paddle-out.

The headline height is only the start. Direction, period, wind and tide bring the session into focus.
01

Swell direction

East and northeast energy generally finds more of the Space Coast’s open beach. A few degrees can decide which sandbar bends a clean line and which one misses it.

02

Period

Short-period wind swell often means tight, softer lines. More seconds between waves can bring better organization, more push and wider gaps between sets.

03

Wind

A west component is offshore for most east-facing breaks and can clean the face. East wind adds onshore texture; light is usually your friend either way.

04

Tide

Tide changes the depth over the bar. Follow the curve, learn your break’s window and remember the inlet and beachbreaks do not all switch on together.

BEACH SAFETY

When in doubt, don’t paddle or swim out.

Rip currents, lightning, shorebreak and changing wind can turn an ordinary beach day serious. Follow posted flags, lifeguards, beach patrol and official warnings at the exact access you use.
NWS rip-current risk ↗Brevard Ocean Rescue ↗

RIP CURRENT ESCAPE

Stay calm. Float. Move parallel to shore.

  1. Do not fight the current straight back toward the beach.
  2. Float or tread water to conserve energy.
  3. Swim parallel to shore, then angle back in when free.
  4. Wave and call for help if you cannot escape.

LIGHTNING RULE

Hear thunder? Clear the beach.

  1. Lightning can strike beyond the rain shaft.
  2. Leave open sand and water immediately.
  3. Use a substantial building or hard-topped vehicle.
  4. Wait for official guidance before returning.