THE OUTER CAPE / SURF CONDITIONS

Marconi Beach Wellfleet · Current conditions

Marconi Beach

Classic dunes & punchy peaks

cached fetched 12:30 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

4.3 sec

Swell

0.5 ft

5.4s period

Wind

10 mph

↓ SW · Cross · 62°F

Sea temp

61 °F

Cool water

Tide

L 4:28 PM

Low · 0.0 ft

Wind chop

0.7 ft

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

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Marconi Beach · focused point check

All clear No active NWS watches, warnings, or advisories are listed for this selected beach point right now.

7-Day Forecast

Daily peak waves · wind · tides

  • Wed

    Small

    Maximum wave height 1.9 ft

    5.4s · 11 mph

    SW wind N swell

    H 10:00 AM L 4:15 AM

  • Thu

    Weak

    Maximum wave height 2.1 ft

    3.5s · 18 mph

    SW wind SE swell

    H 10:53 AM L 5:07 AM

  • Fri

    Weak

    Maximum wave height 2.0 ft

    3.5s · 18 mph

    WNW wind NNW swell

    H 11:40 AM L 5:55 AM

  • Sat

    Okay

    Maximum wave height 2.7 ft

    4.9s · 12 mph

    NW wind N swell

    H 12:06 AM L 6:39 AM

  • Sun

    Small

    Maximum wave height 1.6 ft

    4.0s · 14 mph

    SSW wind E swell

    H 12:52 AM L 7:21 AM

  • Mon

    Weak

    Maximum wave height 3.1 ft

    5.3s · 15 mph

    N wind SE swell

    H 1:36 AM L 8:01 AM

    🌫️ Beach fog likely

  • Tue

    Blown

    Maximum wave height 5.0 ft

    6.1s · 20 mph

    ESE wind SE swell

    H 2:21 AM L 8:40 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 4:28 PM H 10:22 PM L 5:07 AM H 10:53 AM Wednesday 4:00 PM: 1.3 ft Wed 4 PM Wednesday 5:00 PM: 1.4 ft Wednesday 6:00 PM: 1.4 ft Wednesday 7:00 PM: 1.4 ft Wednesday 8:00 PM: 1.5 ft Wed 8 PM Wednesday 9:00 PM: 1.5 ft Wednesday 10:00 PM: 1.5 ft Wednesday 11:00 PM: 1.5 ft Thursday 12:00 AM: 1.5 ft Thu 12 AM Thursday 1:00 AM: 1.5 ft Thursday 2:00 AM: 1.5 ft Thursday 3:00 AM: 1.5 ft Thursday 4:00 AM: 1.6 ft Thu 4 AM Thursday 5:00 AM: 1.6 ft Thursday 6:00 AM: 1.7 ft Thursday 7:00 AM: 1.8 ft Thursday 8:00 AM: 1.9 ft Thu 8 AM Thursday 9:00 AM: 2.0 ft Thursday 10:00 AM: 2.0 ft Thursday 11:00 AM: 2.1 ft Thursday 12:00 PM: 2.1 ft Thu 12 PM Thursday 1:00 PM: 2.0 ft Thursday 2:00 PM: 2.0 ft Thursday 3:00 PM: 1.9 ft Thu 3 PM
  1. 1.3 ft
  2. 1.4 ft
  3. 1.4 ft
  4. 1.4 ft
  5. 1.5 ft
  6. 1.5 ft
  7. 1.5 ft
  8. 1.5 ft
  9. 1.5 ft
  10. 1.5 ft
  11. 1.5 ft
  12. 1.5 ft
  13. 1.6 ft
  14. 1.6 ft
  15. 1.7 ft
  16. 1.8 ft
  17. 1.9 ft
  18. 2.0 ft
  19. 2.0 ft
  20. 2.1 ft
  21. 2.1 ft
  22. 2.0 ft
  23. 2.0 ft
  24. 1.9 ft

Surf Cams

Check local cameras for wave shape and surface conditions.

Gear Check

7-day peak 5.0 ft / best Tue Blown / avg 40 stoke

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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: Blown, 5.0 ft at 6.1s, 58 stoke.
  2. Biggest surf Tuesday, Oct 13: up to 5.0 ft, swell SE, wind ESE.
  3. Wind note No offshore setup in this week's forecast yet. Weekly average: 40 stoke.

Other Breaks

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

Marconi Beach Surf Guide

Local swell, wind, and tide notes for Wellfleet

Marconi Beach is one of the Outer Cape's most reliable swell magnets - a wide National Seashore beachbreak in Wellfleet with shifting sandbars and punchy peaks when an east swell meets west wind.

Best swell
East and southeast swells (ENE–ESE) light up the bars best. Nor'easters and tropical pulses that wrap into Cape Cod Bay can also deliver, but classic Cape days run on Atlantic energy from the east.
Best wind
West to WNW offshore wind (roughly 235–305°) grooms the faces. Strong WNW can add texture on Marconi - our forecast flags that above 5 mph.
Tide tip
Mid tide often gives the most even sandbar shape. Very high tide can push waves into the dunes; low tide exposes closeouts on some bars.
Skill level
Intermediate on average days; advanced when size builds. Beginners should stick to small, clean days with room to spread out.

Flat or blown out? Also check White Crest Beach , Newcomb Hollow Beach , Coast Guard Beach .

Beach safety

Cape Cod National Seashore beaches carry Stop the Bleed trauma kits and emergency call boxes. Know where they are before you paddle out.

  • Call 911 for any emergency. Lifeguards are typically on duty mid-June through Labor Day only.
  • Purple shark flags mean elevated shark risk - follow NPS Shark Smart guidance and check the Sharktivity app.
  • Strong rips, shorebreak, and cold water are common. Surf within your limits and never alone in the off-season.

Common questions

Is Marconi Beach good for surfing?

Yes, when there is east swell and west offshore wind. Marconi handles size well and is a go-to Outer Cape beachbreak, though sandbars shift seasonally.

What is the best swell direction for Marconi Beach?

East to southeast swells produce the best shape. Look for swell from 56–124 degrees combined with offshore wind from the west.

Is Marconi Beach good for beginners?

Only on small, clean days with light crowds. The current, shifting bars, and summer traffic make it better suited to intermediate surfers most of the time.

Beach Wire

Wind + Swell Vector