Hurricane Swell
Hurricane Swell Tracker
Where the storms are. When the swell arrives.
Live tropical storms from the National Hurricane Center, plus a simple estimate of how long their swell takes to reach your beach. Hurricane swell brings the best waves of the year to the East Coast, and the most dangerous rip currents.
Right now
Active storms
Checking the National Hurricane Center…
Next 7 days
Atlantic outlook
Next 7 days
Eastern Pacific outlook
How the timing works
Swell travels at a speed set by its period: a 16-second swell moves about 45 mph across open ocean, a 10-second swell about 28 mph. We divide the distance from the storm to your beach by that speed. It’s a rough guide, and swell only arrives if the storm’s winds are aimed your way.
Hurricane swell is serious
Long-period swell can look small from the beach and still pull hard. Rip currents kill people on sunny days, hundreds of miles from the storm. Beginners: watch from the sand. Rip currents explained.
Season
The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, peaking from mid-August to mid-October. The Eastern Pacific season starts May 15. Storms can form outside these dates.
See the Swell Coming
Check Your 16-Day Forecast.
Watch the wave heights climb as storm swell heads your way, with tides, wind and beach safety.