76°
Patchy Smoke
92%
25
Suffolk County, NY · Atlantic Ocean
Fire Island National Seashore — Watch Hill
Watch Hill, Fire Island National Seashore, Patchogue, NY 11772
NPS-managed barrier-island outpost reached only by ferry from Patchogue or by boat. Wilder and quieter than the state parks: a guarded swim beach, a 26-site family campground, a marina, and a boardwalk trail through the Otis Pike Wilderness — the only federally designated wilderness in New York State.
Today's Conditions
Decent day for fishing.
92% rain · 76°F air · 73°F water
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Patchy smoke and showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy. High near 76, with temperatures falling to around 74 in the afternoon. South wind 18 to 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Tonight
Showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11pm and 2am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 2am and 5am. Mostly cloudy. Low around 72, with temperatures rising to around 74 overnight. Southwest wind 16 to 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Weather
- 76°F air — ideal beach weather
- 92% rain — wet day — beach day is off
- 22 mph wind — breezy — anchor everything
Water
- 73°F water — swimmable, refreshing
37 /100
ok
33 Swim
2 Sunbathe
21 Walk
58 Fish
53 Photo
Best for fishing today
Water level 0.8 ft above predicted
Observed water level is running higher than the astronomical tide prediction. Expect a narrower beach, faster-rising water, and stronger near-shore currents than the tide chart suggests.
Atmosphere
Air Temp
76°F
Light Rain and Smoke
Wind
18 to 22 mph
S
Rain
92%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
2 Low
Peaks 11 AM · burn in ~100m
Burn-free before 10 AM & after 12 PM
Tomorrow
80°F
Sunny
Water
Water Temp
73°F
Swimming weather
Wave Height
3.0 ft
4s · S swell
Water Quality
Clean
0 #/100mL · Enterococcus
USGS · sampled 10mo ago
Rip Current Risk · Regional Reference
No zone-specific NWS forecast for this beach (ANZ353)
The OKX office's Surf Zone Forecast doesn't cover this beach's forecast zone directly. Nearby coastal zones it does cover are listed below — regional reference only, not a substitute for the conditions at this specific beach.
- NYZ075 Kings (Brooklyn) — Coney Island Beach and Manhattan Beach High
- NYZ178 Southern Queens — Jacob Riis Park and Rockaway Beach High
- NYZ179 Southern Nassau — Atlantic Beach, Long Beach, Lido Beach, High
- NYZ080 Southwestern Suffolk — Gilgo State Park and Robert Moses State Park High
- NYZ081 Southeastern Suffolk — Smith Point, Cupsogue Beach, High
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
5:35 AM
Sunset
8:20 PM
Moon · 18%
Waxing Crescent
Neap tides — smaller range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:40 AM | Low | -0.3 ft |
| 11:57 AM | High | 5.3 ft |
| 5:55 PM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:06 AM | High | 5.2 ft |
| 6:25 AM | Low | 0.0 ft |
| 12:48 PM | High | 5.2 ft |
| 6:47 PM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:57 AM | High | 4.9 ft |
| 7:12 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 1:37 PM | High | 5.1 ft |
| 7:45 PM | Low | 1.0 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:47 AM | High | 4.5 ft |
| 8:01 AM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| 2:24 PM | High | 5.0 ft |
| 8:47 PM | Low | 1.1 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:35 AM | High | 4.2 ft |
| 8:53 AM | Low | 0.9 ft |
| 3:11 PM | High | 5.0 ft |
| 9:47 PM | Low | 1.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:26 AM | High | 4.0 ft |
| 9:46 AM | Low | 1.0 ft |
| 4:01 PM | High | 4.9 ft |
| 10:43 PM | Low | 1.1 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:22 AM | High | 3.9 ft |
| 10:38 AM | Low | 1.1 ft |
| 4:55 PM | High | 4.9 ft |
| 11:33 PM | Low | 1.0 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8531680, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
80°
Sunny
6%
79
78°
Sunny
0%
84
79°
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
59%
14
79°
Showers And Thunderstorms
90%
1
77°
Chance Rain Showers
25%
69
77°
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny
16%
80
What to Bring Today
- recommended Beach shelter or anchored canopy 18 to 22 mph wind — umbrellas will flip
- optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 73°F
- recommended Rain cover + dry bag 92% chance of rain
Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).
Best Fishing Times Today
Solunar theory: fish activity peaks at moon transits (major) and moonrise/moonset (minor). All times local.
Minor
10:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Major
3:20 AM - 5:20 AM
Minor
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Major
3:40 PM - 5:40 PM
Beach Info
Parking
No vehicle access. Park at the Davis Park Ferry terminal in Patchogue; round-trip ferry required.
Dogs
Leashed dogs allowed on most NPS beaches year-round EXCEPT during piping-plover nesting closures (roughly Mar 15 – Labor Day on posted stretches).
Entry Fee
No NPS entrance fee. Ferry and camping fees apply.
Address
Watch Hill, Fire Island National Seashore, Patchogue, NY 11772
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Fire Island National Seashore — Watch Hill today?
Fire Island National Seashore — Watch Hill shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. Seasonal lifeguards patrol the swim area in summer — follow their flags. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
Is Fire Island National Seashore — Watch Hill dog-friendly?
Leashed dogs allowed on most NPS beaches year-round EXCEPT during piping-plover nesting closures (roughly Mar 15 – Labor Day on posted stretches).
Is there an entry fee at Fire Island National Seashore — Watch Hill?
No NPS entrance fee. Ferry and camping fees apply.
Are there lifeguards at Fire Island National Seashore — Watch Hill?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Fire Island National Seashore — Watch Hill during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at Fire Island National Seashore — Watch Hill?
Amenities at Fire Island National Seashore — Watch Hill include lifeguards, restrooms, showers, snack bar, picnic area, concessions, camping, boat ramp.
When is the water warmest at Fire Island National Seashore — Watch Hill?
Atlantic water temperatures peak in August. Northern beaches (ME, NH, MA) run cool — typically 60-68°F at the summer peak. Mid-Atlantic (NJ, DE, MD, VA) hits 74-76°F. The Carolinas and Florida Atlantic warm into the 80s and stay swimmable from May through October.
Where is Fire Island National Seashore — Watch Hill located?
Fire Island National Seashore — Watch Hill is in Suffolk County, NY, at Watch Hill, Fire Island National Seashore, Patchogue, NY 11772.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS