THE OUTER CAPE / SURF CONDITIONS

Ballston Beach Truro · Current conditions

Ballston Beach

Truro sandbars & open swell

fetched 12:25 PM ET

Conditions rated as Small. Forecast vibe: Small

Small surf with limited wave energy. A longboard may suit the conditions.

Small waves with limited energy.

Wave height

1.1 ft

Period

3.6 sec

Swell

0.6 ft

2.8s period

Wind

10 mph

↓ SW · Cross · 62°F

Sea temp

60 °F

Cool water

Tide

L 3:13 PM

Low · 0.5 ft

Wind chop

0.7 ft

Model grid · not a buoy - trust your eyes & lifeguards

↻ Reload Plays a quick celebration animation

weather.gov live alert feed

Severe Weather Alert

Ballston Beach · focused point check

Minor

Small Craft Advisory

Small Craft Advisory issued October 7 at 11:20AM EDT until October 8 at 3:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA

Coastal waters from Provincetown MA to Chatham MA to Nantucket MA out 20 NM; Coastal Waters extending out to 25 NM South of Marthas Vineyard and Nantucket; Coastal Waters from Montauk NY to Marthas Vineyard extending out to 20 NM South of Block Island

Expires Oct 8, 12:30 AM EDT

NWS Statement ↗

7-Day Forecast

Daily peak waves · wind · tides

  • Wed

    Okay

    Maximum wave height 2.3 ft

    4.1s · 11 mph

    SSW wind NNW swell

    H 9:11 AM L 2:54 AM

  • Thu

    Weak

    Maximum wave height 2.6 ft

    3.6s · 18 mph

    WSW wind S swell

    H 10:04 AM L 3:48 AM

  • Fri

    Weak

    Maximum wave height 2.6 ft

    3.6s · 27 mph

    WNW wind NW swell

    H 10:52 AM L 4:38 AM

  • Sat

    Weak

    Maximum wave height 3.3 ft

    4.4s · 20 mph

    NW wind NNW swell

    H 11:37 AM L 5:24 AM

  • Sun

    Weak

    Maximum wave height 2.1 ft

    3.3s · 21 mph

    SSW wind WNW swell

    H 12:05 AM L 6:07 AM

  • Mon

    Weak

    Maximum wave height 3.7 ft

    4.8s · 23 mph

    NNE wind SSE swell

    H 12:51 AM L 6:50 AM

    🌫️ Beach fog likely

  • Tue

    Head High

    Maximum wave height 6.5 ft

    5.2s · 31 mph

    ESE wind SSE swell

    H 1:35 AM L 7:32 AM

Hourly Forecast

The next 24 hours · Eastern time

24-hour line graph for wave height Wave height in feet for each hour in the next 24 hours. 15.0ft 11.3ft 7.5ft 3.8ft 0.0ft L 3:13 PM H 9:32 PM L 3:48 AM H 10:04 AM Wednesday 4:00 PM: 1.6 ft Wed 4 PM Wednesday 5:00 PM: 1.8 ft Wednesday 6:00 PM: 1.8 ft Wednesday 7:00 PM: 1.9 ft Wednesday 8:00 PM: 1.9 ft Wed 8 PM Wednesday 9:00 PM: 2.0 ft Wednesday 10:00 PM: 2.1 ft Wednesday 11:00 PM: 2.2 ft Thursday 12:00 AM: 2.2 ft Thu 12 AM Thursday 1:00 AM: 2.1 ft Thursday 2:00 AM: 2.1 ft Thursday 3:00 AM: 2.1 ft Thursday 4:00 AM: 2.1 ft Thu 4 AM Thursday 5:00 AM: 2.1 ft Thursday 6:00 AM: 2.2 ft Thursday 7:00 AM: 2.4 ft Thursday 8:00 AM: 2.5 ft Thu 8 AM Thursday 9:00 AM: 2.6 ft Thursday 10:00 AM: 2.6 ft Thursday 11:00 AM: 2.6 ft Thursday 12:00 PM: 2.6 ft Thu 12 PM Thursday 1:00 PM: 2.4 ft Thursday 2:00 PM: 2.4 ft Thursday 3:00 PM: 2.2 ft Thu 3 PM
  1. 1.6 ft
  2. 1.8 ft
  3. 1.8 ft
  4. 1.9 ft
  5. 1.9 ft
  6. 2.0 ft
  7. 2.1 ft
  8. 2.2 ft
  9. 2.2 ft
  10. 2.1 ft
  11. 2.1 ft
  12. 2.1 ft
  13. 2.1 ft
  14. 2.1 ft
  15. 2.2 ft
  16. 2.4 ft
  17. 2.5 ft
  18. 2.6 ft
  19. 2.6 ft
  20. 2.6 ft
  21. 2.6 ft
  22. 2.4 ft
  23. 2.4 ft
  24. 2.2 ft

Surf Cams

Check local cameras for wave shape and surface conditions.

Cam hub Cape Cod Beach Cams Outer Cape directory Fast jump list for Nauset, Skaket, Cahoon Hollow, Marconi, and more. Watch cam ↗ Live check Nauset Beach Cam Orleans Official Orleans beach-cam landing page for the Atlantic-side Nauset view. Watch cam ↗ YouTube cam Cahoon Hollow Beach Cam Wellfleet YouTube cam check for Cahoon Hollow and the outer-beach sandbar mood. Watch cam ↗ Outer Cape Marconi Beach Cam Wellfleet Outer Cape ocean view for checking Wellfleet lines and beach texture. Watch cam ↗ Surf cam Nauset Surf Cam Surf-Forecast Surf-focused cam page paired with forecast context and nearby cam links. Watch cam ↗

Gear Check

7-day peak 6.5 ft / best Tue Head High / avg 38 stoke

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Weekly Summary

...the week ahead

Surf quality looks limited this week. Compare wave height, period, and wind for the best window.

  1. Best day Tuesday, Oct 13: Head High, 6.5 ft at 5.2s, 69 stoke.
  2. Biggest surf Tuesday, Oct 13: up to 6.5 ft, swell SSE, wind ESE.
  3. Wind note No offshore setup in this week's forecast yet. Weekly average: 38 stoke.

Other Breaks

Every break page is tailored to that beach — not a copy-paste forecast. Jump to another spot below.

Marconi Beach Wellfleet · Outer Cape Nauset Beach Orleans · Atlantic Coast Guard Beach Eastham · National Seashore Ballston Beach Truro · Outer Cape Nauset Light Beach Eastham · Atlantic LeCount Hollow Beach / Maguire Landing Wellfleet · Outer Cape White Crest Beach Wellfleet · Outer Cape Cahoon Hollow Beach Wellfleet · Outer Cape Newcomb Hollow Beach Wellfleet · Outer Cape Head of the Meadow Beach Truro · Outer Cape

Photos provided by Pexels Some wrong beaches sneak through.

Photo by Tamara Martina on Pexels
Photo by Jeff Nissen on Pexels
Photo by Magda Ehlers on Pexels
Photo by Josh Hild on Pexels
Photo by Robert So on Pexels
Photo by Nathan Cowley on Pexels
Photo by Jan van der Wolf on Pexels
Photo by Jess Loiterton on Pexels

Beach Photo

View on Pexels

Ballston Beach Surf Guide

Local swell, wind, and tide notes for Truro

Ballston Beach in Truro is an exposed Outer Cape sandbar that takes open Atlantic swell with little shelter. Powerful and often empty compared to beaches closer to Orleans.

Best swell
Any solid east or northeast swell reaches Ballston. It handles size better than most Cape breaks - check carefully when forecasts push above 4 ft.
Best wind
West offshore wind cleans the faces. WNW above 5 mph can add chop on northern Outer Cape spots including Ballston.
Tide tip
Low to mid tide often works best for bar shape. Access and rip currents demand respect at all tides.
Skill level
Intermediate to advanced. The open exposure and current make it a poor choice for first-time surfers.

Flat or blown out? Also check Head of the Meadow Beach , Marconi Beach , White Crest Beach .

Beach safety

Truro town beaches, including Ballston, have Stop the Bleed trauma kits on-site for serious injuries before EMS arrives.

  • Call 911 immediately. Ballston is remote with no lifeguards - surf with a buddy and tell someone your plan.
  • Open Atlantic exposure means sharks, strong rips, and heavy shorebreak. Follow Be Shark Smart guidance.
  • Parking and access are limited. Know your exit route and keep an eye on the tide.

Be Shark Smart Stop the Bleed

Common questions

Is Ballston Beach good for surfing?

Yes on east swell with west wind. Ballston is a Truro favorite for surfers who want open-ocean energy without Orleans crowds.

How big does Ballston Beach get?

Ballston handles larger swell well relative to many Cape breaks. Our forecast shows wave height, period, and wind so you can judge when it crosses into serious territory.

Where is Ballston Beach?

Ballston Beach is in Truro on the Outer Cape, facing the Atlantic with shifting sandbars and a more remote feel than Orleans or Eastham beaches.

Beach Wire

Wind + Swell Vector