Jennette's Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are going to be a tough watch for anyone with a surfboard in the Outer Banks. The charts are showing a whole lot of nothing for a long stretch, and we’ve got a real blank run on our hands.

Jennette’s Pier is the only game in town, and to be honest, it’s not much of a game for a while. We’re looking at a gap of about nine days before anything even starts to resemble a wave worth paddling for. For the first week and a half, from now through to the 16th of August, it’s all tiny, weak slop with combined swell energy barely getting into double digits (3 to 103). The winds are mostly cross or onshore, kicking up chop, and even the few offshore mornings we get are on swells that are just too small – think 0.3ft to 2ft. It’s the kind of setup where you’re just getting wet, not catching anything.

Then, around the 17th of August, we finally see a glimmer. On Monday morning, there’s a long-period groundswell pushing in at 14 seconds, but it’s only 1ft. The combined energy is moderate at 119, and the wind is dead glassy. For that one window, you might find a clean, tiny wave if you’re on a longboard and really patient. But it’s fleeting – the onshore kicks in by the afternoon.

The real interest, and I say this cautiously, shows up in the second week, around the 20th and 21st of August. The swell starts to build from the ESE, with periods holding at 11 seconds and combined energy jumping into strong territory (342 to 411). We’re talking chest-to-head high sets (3ft to 4ft) for the morning of the 20th and the 21st. The water is a warm 81°F with an anomaly of 1°F, so it’s about average for the time of year. But here’s the kicker – the winds are a mess. Cross-shore on the 20th and a strong onshore on the 21st. It’s going to be a lumpy, bumpy mess, more of a kite-surfing kind of day than a clean paddle session.

The best bet in the whole forecast, if you’re an experienced surfer willing to work for it, is Saturday the 22nd of August. The morning at Jennette’s Pier sees a clean offshore breeze from the NW, with a chest-high plus swell (4ft) coming from the ENE at a short, punchy 8 seconds. Combined energy is moderate at 259. It’s a beach/jetty setup, and with that short period, it’ll be a bit crumbly, but the offshore wind will hold it up. Crowds can pop up here sometimes, but on a morning with marginal conditions like this, you might have it to yourself. It’s not a classic, but it’s the only stand-out window we’ve got.

Overall, it’s a lean period. The area can have long gaps like this, so don’t get too down. Forecasts can change, but for now, keep your board in the car and your expectations low. For the 22nd, if you’re local and desperate, it might just be worth a dawny.

Stay wet,
Rusty.

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