Surf Forecasts:
Columbia St surf forecast from 7 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 8 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, ESE swell with 180 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Columbia St this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Columbia St in the next 16 days are 1.4m 7s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 5s period and expected on Friday (Sep 11) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Columbia St over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the table for the next couple weeks.
Honestly, I gotta be straight with you – it’s a flat spell. We’ve got a solid 16 days ahead, but the surf just isn’t showing up. The whole run is a write-off for anything worth paddling out for. Every single report is flagged as poor surf conditions, with combined wave energy staying weak, all under 100 (mostly in the 20s, 30s, and 40s). That’s pretty much a full-on blank for the area, and it’s not unusual for this stretch of coast when the swell windows just don’t line up.
The only spot in the mix is Columbia St, a sandbar setup that's consistent but geared for beginners. It’s fairly exposed, needs swell from the NE, but we never get anything close. Through the entire period, wave heights barely tickle 3 ft, and when they do, they're short-period windswell of 5 to 7 seconds. The best we see is a bump to 5 ft on Monday the 7th afternoon, but that comes with a fresh 19 mph cross-onshore wind making it lumpy and ugly. Combined energy hits 139 (moderate) but the quality is still trash.
There’s a moment on Thursday the 10th morning when the wind goes glassy – that’s a tease if I've ever had one – but the swell is only 2 ft from the SE with weak energy (50). It’s clean, but there's nothing to ride. Same thing on Monday the 14th morning: glassy again, but just 2 ft of SE swell.
Look, the water temp is about average for this time of year, but that’s the only thing that's normal. If you’re desperate, maybe a longboard on the glassy mornings, but you’ll be doing more sitting than surfing. This stretch is a kite surfer’s game if the wind picks up, but for paddle surfing, it’s a no-go.
This is Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 27°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 29°C on Thu afternoon, min 25°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | ||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | E 5 | E 6 | E 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | E 4 | E 5 | E 5 | SE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 49 | 51 | 132 | 135 | 152 | 101 | 78 | 77 | 75 | 59 | 47 | 43 | 39 | 29 | 18 | 25 | 60 | 29 | 29 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 4:19AM1.20m | 4:57PM1.51m | 5:23AM1.30m | 5:54PM1.56m | 6:18AM1.42m | 6:44PM1.59m | 7:07AM1.51m | 7:30PM1.59m | 7:53AM1.58m | 8:14PM1.55m | 8:40AM1.60m | 8:59PM1.49m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:42PM0.22m | 10:38AM0.11m | 11:34PM0.15m | 11:35AM0.06m | 00:24AM0.09m | 12:31PM0.02m | 1:12AM0.04m | 1:24PM-0.01m | 1:58AM0.01m | 2:14PM-0.02m | 2:40AM0.00m | 3:01PM0.01m | 3:21AM0.02m | ||||||
 |  | |  | | | | |  | |  |  |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — |
 | 7:30 | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — |
mm | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
Temp °C | 26 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 |
Feels °C | 26 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | — | — | E 10 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 9 |
| kJ | 8 | 18 | 7 | — | — | 7 | 78 | 77 | 75 | 59 | 47 | 43 | 39 | 29 | 18 | 11 | 12 | 18 | 29 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | — | — | — | — | — | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | ESE 9 | E 8 | SE 8 | — | S 5 | SE 9 | SE 11 | S 4 | — | SSW 4 |
| kJ | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 18 | — | 11 | 12 | 4 | 1 | — | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | — | SE 9 | SSW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | SW 4 | E 6 |
| kJ | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 13 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | E 5 | E 6 | E 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | S 3 | S 4 | SW 4 | — | E 4 | E 5 | E 5 | E 4 |
| kJ | 49 | 51 | 132 | 135 | 152 | 101 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 18 | 16 | — | 25 | 60 | 29 | 13 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 687 | 621 | 648 | 158 | 343 | 671 | 43 | 158 | 158 | 158 | 33 | 546 | 33 | 33 | 857 | 902 | 98 | 161 | 1184 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Columbia St Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Columbia St provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Columbia St can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Columbia St surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Columbia St) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Columbia St may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Columbia St is 12 km (7 miles) from the city of Wilmington. If you plan a vacation in North Carolina, look for hotels and other accommodation in Wilmington. Wilmington has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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