Surf Forecasts:
Jennette's Pier surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 9s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 9s period, ESE swell with 33 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 9s period with ESE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Jennette's Pier this week:
The surf forecast for Jennette's Pier over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Jennette's Pier in the next 16 days are 0.4m 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Jennette's Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let me level with you. I’ve looked over the Outer Banks stretch around Jennette’s Pier, and to be honest, the next 16 days are a real struggle for us. The surf is just not cooperating. The models are showing a long, flat spell with hardly any energy to get excited about. We’re looking at a pretty blank run here, which isn't unheard of for this area, but it stings when you’re itching for a session.
The first two weeks are a tough slog. From Friday the 21st of August all the way through to the end of the month, the swell is tiny. We’re talking knee-high dribbles, mostly around 1ft to 1ft. The combined energy is weak, often in the teens or twenties, barely a whisper. The wind does offer some clean windows, like Saturday the 22nd afternoon with a light offshore breeze from the west, and Monday the 24th morning is glassy with a light NE wind, but with that little swell, it's just a flat, clean lake. Not worth paddling out for. A few days have a bit of cross-off or glass, but the wave size is just not there.
Even into the first week of September, the situation doesn't really improve. The first few days of September see a slight bump in combined energy, hitting 108 on the 1st of September Tuesday afternoon, but the swell height is still only 1ft. That’s weak-to-moderate energy at best, but it's still too small to do anything with.
The one tiny glimmer, and I mean a *glimmer*, comes on the 31st of August Monday morning. The period jumps to a very long 17 seconds from the ESE, and the combined energy is 64. But the swell height is still only 0.7ft. That’s a groundswell with zero size. It's a tease. A long period like that would be better at a point or reef, but Jennette’s is a beach/jetty setup, so it would just break straight and close out if there was any size. There isn’t.
For the rest of the run, it’s the same story. The biggest swell we see is 2ft on the 29th of August and 2nd of September, but the wind is onshore or cross-on, making it choppy and messy. Honestly, for a beach-and-jetty setup with this kind of weak, onshore wind, it looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
So, the hard truth is there are no standouts, no days to circle on your calendar. We’ve got over a week of flatness from the start, and the second week offers nothing better. It’s a waiting game, but forecasts can change, and it doesn't stay poor forever. Keep an eye on it, but don't hold your breath.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 27mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 29°C on Thu night, min 24°C on Sat afternoon). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 56mm), heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 28°C on Mon night, min 22°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 4 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 8 | E 13 | E 8 | E 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | E 15 | ESE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
14 | 15 | 16 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 29 | 22 | 22 | 18 | 17 | 26 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross |
High Tide | 2:17AM0.84m | 2:59PM1.04m | 3:18AM0.84m | 3:58PM1.05m | 4:19AM0.86m | 4:52PM1.08m | 5:14AM0.91m | 5:40PM1.12m | 6:02AM0.97m | 6:22PM1.16m | 6:46AM1.04m | 7:02PM1.19m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:42PM0.32m | 8:20AM0.27m | 9:43PM0.33m | 9:20AM0.28m | 10:40PM0.32m | 10:19AM0.28m | 11:30PM0.28m | 11:15AM0.25m | 00:14AM0.24m | 12:04PM0.22m | 00:53AM0.19m | 12:50PM0.19m | 1:29AM0.15m | ||||||
— | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | |
7:45 | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | |
mm | 5 | — | 2 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 6 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 32 | 15 | 1 | 1 |
Temp °C | 29 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 29 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
Feels °C | 30 | 29 | 26 | 32 | 29 | 24 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 24 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 23 | 24 | 29 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | NE 4 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | E 8 | SSE 6 | S 7 | SSE 7 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 |
14 | 15 | 16 | 4 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 16 | 24 | 15 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 29 | 22 | 22 | 18 | 17 | 26 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | SE 4 | SE 4 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 8 | NE 6 | E 8 | E 12 | ESE 12 | SSE 5 | N 3 | SE 5 | E 7 | E 7 | SE 4 | SE 4 | E 15 | SSE 6 |
1 | 3 | 1 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 28 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 4 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 16 | E 8 | E 15 | NNE 6 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | NNE 6 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | SSE 7 | E 7 | — | S 5 | E 7 | E 16 | SE 4 | E 14 |
5 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | — | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 14 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | — | NNE 4 | — | — | S 3 | SSW 3 | SW 3 | S 7 | — | N 3 | NNW 3 | — | — | SSE 3 | SW 2 | — | — | — |
14 | — | 11 | — | — | 3 | 8 | 5 | 69 | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 221 | 373 | 2366 | 38 | 14 | 5 | 258 | 197 | 221 | 22 | 38 | 373 | 296 | 433 | 861 | 38 | 868 | 20 | 22 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Jennette's Pier Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Jennette's Pier provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Jennette's Pier can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Jennette's Pier 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 (Jennette's Pier) 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 Jennette's Pier 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.
Are you planning a vacation in North Carolina? If you are looking for accommodation near Jennette's Pier, camping, hotels and condos and appartments in North Carolina, consider staying in Elizabeth City which is 70 km (43 miles) away. Alternatively, find information about places to stay and car hire in Cape Hatteras which is 78 km (48 miles) away











