Best Time to Surf Montauk (2026)
Montauk, New York— Month-by-month surf guide
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Surfing in May
May
Montauk is between peak seasons right now. Expect 2-3 ft waves and 58°F water. Peak month: September.
Surf Score by Month
Score reflects overall surf quality each month — combining peak season activity, water temperature, and crowd levels.
Monthly Breakdown
January
0
Waves3-6 ft
Water temp42°F
Wetsuit5/4mm + boots/gloves/hood
CrowdsLow
Beaches peaking0
Nor'easter swells, dedicated locals only
February
0
Waves3-5 ft
Water temp40°F
Wetsuit5/4mm + boots/gloves/hood
CrowdsLow
Beaches peaking2
Winter storm swells, iciest water
March
0
Waves2-5 ft
Water temp42°F
Wetsuit5/4mm + boots/gloves/hood
CrowdsLow
Beaches peaking2
Late winter swells, water slowly warms
April
0
Waves2-4 ft
Water temp50°F
Wetsuit4/3mm + boots
CrowdsLow
Beaches peaking0
Spring transitions, cleaner conditions
May
0
Waves2-3 ft
Water temp58°F
Wetsuit3/2mm
CrowdsModerate
Beaches peaking0
Small clean days, Montauk crowd building
June
0
Waves1-3 ft
Water temp65°F
Wetsuitspring suit
CrowdsHigh
Beaches peaking0
Beach season begins, mostly small
July
0
Waves1-2 ft
Water temp70°F
Wetsuitspring suit
CrowdsHigh
Beaches peaking0
Flat Hamptons summer, occasional tropical
August
0
Waves1-3 ft
Water temp72°F
Wetsuitboardshorts
CrowdsHigh
Beaches peaking2
Hurricane season begins, warm water
September
Peak0
Waves3-8 ft
Water temp70°F
Wetsuitspring suit
CrowdsModerate
Beaches peaking2
Peak hurricane swells, warm water
October
Peak0
Waves3-6 ft
Water temp63°F
Wetsuit3/2mm
CrowdsModerate
Beaches peaking2
Fall swells, offshore winds, thinning crowds
November
Peak0
Waves3-6 ft
Water temp55°F
Wetsuit4/3mm
CrowdsLow
Beaches peaking2
Nor'easters firing, empty lineups
December
0
Waves3-6 ft
Water temp46°F
Wetsuit5/4mm + boots/gloves/hood
CrowdsLow
Beaches peaking0
Winter storms, hardcore crew
Dawn Patrol vs Afternoon Sessions
Dawn Patrol
- Typically glassier conditions before onshore winds build
- Smaller crowds, especially on weekdays
- Water temps at their coolest — plan your wetsuit for the low end (42°F in winter)
- Best for beach breaks and exposed reef setups in Montauk
Afternoon Sessions
- Onshore winds can create chop, but swell is often more consistent
- Higher crowds on popular beaches, especially weekends
- Water warms through the day — upper end (72°F in summer)
- Sunset sessions can be magic when winds die down
