THE OUTER CAPE / SURF CONDITIONS

Ballston Beach Truro · Current conditions

Ballston Beach

Truro sandbars & open swell

fetched 9:07 PM ET

Live Conditions

Ballston Beach
Surf Report

Real-time conditions, forecasts and local insight for a better day in the water.

THURSDAY, OCT 22 Truro, MA 54°F Air

Wind

N (4°)

MODERATE BREEZE

Tide

Next High 9:11 PM

Next Low 3:21 AM

Waves

ENE (60°) · 5.5 sec

GOOD

Water

Water Temperature

COLD
Map of Cape Cod surf spotsMarconi BeachNauset BeachCoast Guard BeachBallston BeachNauset Light BeachLeCount Hollow Beach / Maguire LandingWhite Crest BeachCahoon Hollow BeachNewcomb Hollow BeachHead of the Meadow Beach

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Conditions rated as Good. Forecast vibe: Good

The forecast suggests a worthwhile surf window. Local wave shape will depend on the tide and sandbar.

Favorable surf potential, depending on the tide.

Wave height

5.7 ft

Period

5.7 sec

Swell

1.9 ft

5.5s period

Wind

14 mph

↓ N · Onshore · 54°F

Sea temp

55 °F

Cold water

Tide

H 9:11 PM

High · 9.4 ft

Wind chop

4.9 ft

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

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Severe Weather Alert

Ballston Beach · focused point check

Moderate

Gale Warning

Gale Warning issued October 22 at 6:44PM EDT until October 23 at 2:00PM 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; Ocean Waters from Provincetown to Nantucket from 20 to 60 NM; Ocean Waters from Marthas Vineyard to Nantucket from 25 to 60 NM

Expires Oct 23, 9:00 AM EDT

NWS Statement ↗

5 Day Forecast 7-Day Forecast

Full Forecast →

Daily peak waves · wind · tides

  • Thu

    Oct 22

    Overcast

    Maximum wave height 7-8 FT

    Up to 24 mph NNE

    NNE wind E swell

    H 8:53 AM L 2:37 AM

    BIG

  • Fri

    Oct 23

    Mostly sunny

    Maximum wave height 7-8 FT

    Up to 25 mph NNE

    NNE wind ENE swell

    H 9:36 AM L 3:21 AM

    BIG

  • Sat

    Oct 24

    Sunny

    Maximum wave height 4-5 FT

    Up to 11 mph N

    N wind NE swell

    H 10:18 AM L 4:04 AM

    GOOD

  • Sun

    Oct 25

    Sunny

    Maximum wave height 2-3 FT

    Up to 14 mph SSW

    SSW wind ENE swell

    H 11:00 AM L 4:47 AM

    GOOD

  • Mon

    Oct 26

    Sunny

    Maximum wave height 2-3 FT

    Up to 15 mph WSW

    WSW wind E swell

    H 11:44 AM L 5:30 AM

    SMALL

  • Tue

    Oct 27

    Overcast

    Maximum wave height 4-5 FT

    Up to 24 mph NNE

    NNE wind NNE swell

    H 12:17 AM L 6:16 AM

    CHOPPY

  • Wed

    Oct 28

    Overcast

    Maximum wave height 2-3 FT

    Up to 13 mph ENE

    ENE wind NE swell

    H 1:06 AM L 7:03 AM

    CHOPPY

Current Conditions

Just now

Wave Height

5-6 FT

ENE (60°)

Wind

14 MPH

N (4°)

Water Temp

55° F

Cold water

Tide

Rising

High 9:11 PM · Low 3:21 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 H 9:11 PM L 3:21 AM H 9:36 AM L 3:45 PM Friday 1:00 AM: 7.0 ft Fri 1 AM Friday 2:00 AM: 7.0 ft Friday 3:00 AM: 7.0 ft Friday 4:00 AM: 6.9 ft Friday 5:00 AM: 6.8 ft Fri 5 AM Friday 6:00 AM: 6.8 ft Friday 7:00 AM: 6.8 ft Friday 8:00 AM: 6.8 ft Friday 9:00 AM: 6.6 ft Fri 9 AM Friday 10:00 AM: 6.5 ft Friday 11:00 AM: 6.4 ft Friday 12:00 PM: 6.2 ft Friday 1:00 PM: 6.0 ft Fri 1 PM Friday 2:00 PM: 5.9 ft Friday 3:00 PM: 5.7 ft Friday 4:00 PM: 5.5 ft Friday 5:00 PM: 5.3 ft Fri 5 PM Friday 6:00 PM: 5.1 ft Friday 7:00 PM: 4.9 ft Friday 8:00 PM: 4.7 ft Friday 9:00 PM: 4.6 ft Fri 9 PM Friday 10:00 PM: 4.5 ft Friday 11:00 PM: 4.3 ft Saturday 12:00 AM: 4.2 ft Sat 12 AM
  1. 7.0 ft
  2. 7.0 ft
  3. 7.0 ft
  4. 6.9 ft
  5. 6.8 ft
  6. 6.8 ft
  7. 6.8 ft
  8. 6.8 ft
  9. 6.6 ft
  10. 6.5 ft
  11. 6.4 ft
  12. 6.2 ft
  13. 6.0 ft
  14. 5.9 ft
  15. 5.7 ft
  16. 5.5 ft
  17. 5.3 ft
  18. 5.1 ft
  19. 4.9 ft
  20. 4.7 ft
  21. 4.6 ft
  22. 4.5 ft
  23. 4.3 ft
  24. 4.2 ft

Surf Cams

Check local cameras for wave shape and surface conditions.

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 7.3 ft / best Thu Head High / avg 59 stoke

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Weekly Summary

...the week ahead

The week is mixed. Pick the best tide and wind window.

  1. Best day Thursday, Oct 22: Head High, 7.3 ft at 6.3s, 83 stoke.
  2. Biggest surf Thursday, Oct 22: up to 7.3 ft, swell E, wind NNE.
  3. Wind note No offshore setup in this week's forecast yet. Weekly average: 59 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 Robert So on Pexels
Photo by Jess Loiterton on Pexels
Photo by Jan van der Wolf on Pexels
Photo by Josh Hild on Pexels
Photo by Nathan Cowley on Pexels

Beach Photo

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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