Ballston Beach · Truro

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Truro sandbars & open swell

fetched 9:58 AM ET

Conditions rated as Okay. Forecast vibe: Doable

Pick the right tide window.

Short-period but rideable; wind is not the issue.

Wave height

2.7 ft

Period

3.9 sec

Swell

1.0 ft

5.5s period

Wind

11 mph

↓ SSW · Cross · 73°F

Sea temp

70 °F

Warm water

Tide

L 12:25 PM

Low · 1.3 ft

Wind chop

2.4 ft

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

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Surf Cams

Model says one thing. Cameras tell you if the ocean is actually playing.

Cam hub Cape Cod Beach Cams Outer Cape directory Fast jump list for Nauset, Skaket, Cahoon Hollow, Marconi, and more. Watch cam ↗ 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 ↗

7-Day High Scores

Scroll the week · max wave per level

  • Wed

    Weak

    Maximum wave height 3.2 ft

    4.2s · 16 mph

    SSW wind SE swell

    H 6:23 AM L 12:11 AM

  • Thu

    Weak

    Maximum wave height 2.2 ft

    5.9s · 12 mph

    NNW wind SSE swell

    H 7:21 AM L 1:09 AM

  • Fri

    Small

    Maximum wave height 1.1 ft

    6.2s · 13 mph

    SSE wind SE swell

    H 8:22 AM L 2:09 AM

  • Sat

    Small

    Maximum wave height 1.1 ft

    6.4s · 11 mph

    ENE wind ESE swell

    H 9:20 AM L 3:08 AM

  • Sun

    Small

    Maximum wave height 1.4 ft

    5.0s · 13 mph

    ESE wind E swell

    H 10:13 AM L 4:01 AM

  • Mon

    Small

    Maximum wave height 1.3 ft

    6.0s · 16 mph

    SSW wind E swell

    H 10:59 AM L 4:47 AM

  • Tue

    Weak

    Maximum wave height 3.3 ft

    4.5s · 19 mph

    S wind ESE swell

    H 11:41 AM L 5:29 AM

24-Hour Level Map

Hour-by-hour power-ups & hazards

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 12:25 PM H 6:44 PM L 1:09 AM H 7:21 AM Wednesday 1:00 PM: 2.8 ft Wed 1 PM Wednesday 2:00 PM: 2.9 ft Wednesday 3:00 PM: 3.0 ft Wednesday 4:00 PM: 3.1 ft Wednesday 5:00 PM: 3.2 ft Wed 5 PM Wednesday 6:00 PM: 3.2 ft Wednesday 7:00 PM: 3.2 ft Wednesday 8:00 PM: 3.2 ft Wednesday 9:00 PM: 2.9 ft Wed 9 PM Wednesday 10:00 PM: 2.6 ft Wednesday 11:00 PM: 2.3 ft Thursday 12:00 AM: 2.2 ft Thursday 1:00 AM: 2.0 ft Thu 1 AM Thursday 2:00 AM: 1.8 ft Thursday 3:00 AM: 1.8 ft Thursday 4:00 AM: 1.8 ft Thursday 5:00 AM: 1.7 ft Thu 5 AM Thursday 6:00 AM: 1.7 ft Thursday 7:00 AM: 1.6 ft Thursday 8:00 AM: 1.6 ft Thursday 9:00 AM: 1.6 ft Thu 9 AM Thursday 10:00 AM: 1.6 ft Thursday 11:00 AM: 1.6 ft Thursday 12:00 PM: 1.6 ft Thu 12 PM
  1. 2.8 ft
  2. 2.9 ft
  3. 3.0 ft
  4. 3.1 ft
  5. 3.2 ft
  6. 3.2 ft
  7. 3.2 ft
  8. 3.2 ft
  9. 2.9 ft
  10. 2.6 ft
  11. 2.3 ft
  12. 2.2 ft
  13. 2.0 ft
  14. 1.8 ft
  15. 1.8 ft
  16. 1.8 ft
  17. 1.7 ft
  18. 1.7 ft
  19. 1.6 ft
  20. 1.6 ft
  21. 1.6 ft
  22. 1.6 ft
  23. 1.6 ft
  24. 1.6 ft

Gear Check

7-day peak 3.3 ft / best Wed Weak / avg 32 stoke

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weather.gov live alert feed

Severe Weather Alert

Ballston Beach · focused point check

Minor

Small Craft Advisory

Small Craft Advisory issued July 22 at 3:35AM EDT until July 23 at 8:00PM 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; Coastal Waters from Montauk NY to Marthas Vineyard extending out to 20 NM South of Block Island

Expires Jul 22, 4:45 PM EDT

NWS Statement ↗

Weekly Summary

...the week ahead

The week looks soft. Longboard mindset helps.

  1. Best day Wednesday, Jul 22: Weak, 3.2 ft at 4.2s, 51 stoke.
  2. Biggest surf Tuesday, Jul 28: up to 3.3 ft, swell ESE, wind S.
  3. Wind note No offshore setup in this week's forecast yet. Weekly average: 32 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

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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

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