Joss Bay
United Kingdom · Atlantic Europe
Right now
DrizzleWind and swell direction
Swell: 0.2m ENE
Wind: 8 km/h SE (cross-offshore)
Beach faces: NE
Cross-offshore wind. Still favourable, expect reasonably clean waves with some texture.
Swell direction is a decent angle for this beach.
Today hour by hour
Updated 10:17Expected crowds
Prediction model v15amDawn patrol territory
7amMidweek quiet
Next 7 days
Forecast via Open-MeteoWhat to pack
- 4/3mm wetsuit recommended for 13°C water.
- Small waves expected. Longboard or fish to make the most of it.
- Strong winds on some days. Check the forecast each morning.
Today's briefing
0.3m swell at 5s on a short period. Onshore wind creating some chop. Water temperature 13°C.
AI-generated summary for Joss Bay. Always check local reports before heading out.
Forecast accuracy at Joss Bay
Not enough data yet. Log a session to help build the accuracy score.
Best time to go
No great windows in the next 2 days
Best available option is Today around 5am (score: 2). Conditions are below the Good threshold but may still be surfable.
Crowd report
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Session journal
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Create free accountTide
Approximate modelSwell forecast
7-day forecastWater quality
5 nearby outfallsUpdated 10:17
Daily score breakdown
This week is looking slightly above average for late April.
Comparing the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Joss Bay.
What's driving it
Recent form
Last 3 days of logged conditions.
About Joss Bay
Joss Bay is a sheltered, picturesque beach break located on the Broadstairs coast of Kent, United Kingdom. The bathymetry features a flat, compacted sandy gradient enclosed within a crescent of towering white chalk cliffs. This geographical configuration heavily filters incoming wave energy; it relies entirely on short-period north-easterly wind swells pushing down the North Sea. A south-westerly offshore wind provides the best surface conditions. When the swell successfully navigates the sandbanks, it produces soft, slow-rolling waves that lack steepness or hydraulic power. These extremely forgiving mechanics make Joss Bay an ideal environment for beginner surfers. The spilling whitewater and gentle green faces offer ample time to establish balance, master the pop-up technique, and practice basic directional control. While the waves are largely insufficient for advanced manoeuvres, the bay provides a highly safe, low-consequence venue for novices to build foundational ocean confidence.
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Create Profile →Frequently asked questions
How often is this page updated?
Current conditions refresh every 6 hours when the cron runs. Hourly data updates every 30 minutes. The 7-day forecast, luck factor, and packing notes are all pre-computed at the same time.
What is the luck factor?
We compare the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Joss Bay. The delta tells you whether conditions are shaping up better, worse, or about the same as a typical late April.
How is 'best session' picked?
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Where does the data come from?
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Does the score capture local knowledge?
Honestly, no. Every break has tide windows, swell directions and reef contours that a global model cannot see. Treat the score as a starting point, then check a local cam.
When is the best time to surf Joss Bay?
Check our timing score heatmap above for a week-by-week breakdown combining surf conditions with crowd pressure.