Surf Forecasts:
Jennette's Pier surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 9s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 9s period, ESE swell with 50 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 9s period with E 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 2PM. 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 cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Jennette's Pier in the next 16 days are 0.6m 9s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Jennette's Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a good long look at what’s coming down the line for us. We’ve got a 16-day window, and I gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch. We’re looking at a whole lot of flat, weak energy for the first week and a half, with only a few flickers of something rideable toward the very end. The water temp around here is about average for this time of year, so no wild surprises there.
Right now, starting today, August 22nd, it’s a write-off. We’ve got tiny 1ft waves from the ESE with no push at all. The energy is next to nothing (39), and with a risk of thunderstorms, you’re better off staying dry. That trend keeps up all the way through the end of August. Day after day of knee-high slop, poor conditions, and winds that are either onshore, cross-shore, or just plain messy. You’ll see a brief moment Sunday morning, August 23rd, with a clean, glassy feel and a 9 mph offshore from the west, but the swell is a pathetic 0.7ft with a period of 12 seconds – that’s all reach and no punch. The combined energy is just 28. Not worth suiting up.
This flat spell drags right through the week. By Friday morning, August 28th, we finally see a tiny bump. The swell pushes up to a marginal 2ft from the E, with a 9-second period, and the offshore wind (9 mph from the WSW) cleans it up. The wave comment finally says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” The combined energy creeps up to 52, but honestly, it’s still a longboard-only day for the most patient souls. That’s the best we've seen, but it’s not a standout. It’s just… less bad.
Sunday morning, August 31st, things get weird. We get a 1ft swell from the ESE, but the period jumps to a massive 19 seconds. That’s a very long-period groundswell. The combined energy hits 93, which is on the edge of moderate, but the wave height is still tiny. This is the kind of swell that will wrap into a point or reef, but here at a beach/jetty setup like Jennette’s Pier, that long period makes the waves break too straight and weak. The offshore wind from the SW will make it look pretty, but you’ll be waiting an eternity for a waist-high wave that just crumbles. The crowd factor is “sometimes” here, so you might have company for the novelty of it.
The first real shift comes Monday afternoon, September 1st. The swell bumps to 2ft from the E, with a 13-second period, and the combined energy pushes up to 120 – that’s moderate energy. The wind is light and cross-on, so it’s not perfect, but for the first time in a long time, there’s some actual grunt in the water. This is one of the two true standouts in this forecast, but it’s still far from firing. The second standout is Wednesday morning, September 2nd, where we see 2ft from the ESE at 12 seconds and the combined energy spikes to 172 – the highest number in the whole 16-day run. The wind is cross-shore, so it’ll be a bit bumpy, but that’s the biggest, most powerful wave of the period. If you’re itching, that’s your morning to check it. It’s still small, but it’s got some life.
After that, it fades fast. By September 5th, the wind is howling from the NNE at 19 mph, and the swell shifts to a messy 4ft from the N with a period of just 6 seconds. That wind is cross-shore, making for lumpy, choppy junk. With that much wind and that short of a period at a beach setup, I’d say it looks more interesting for the kite crew than for us paddle surfers. The energy is there (118), but it’s ugly.
Bottom line: this is a long, slow stretch. The first standout is Monday afternoon, September 1st, and the best on offer is Wednesday morning, September 2nd. Mark those dates, but keep your expectations on the ground. It’s a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 28mm), heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 28°C on Sun afternoon, min 24°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Thu afternoon. Warm (max 28°C on Wed afternoon, min 23°C on Thu afternoon). Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, fresh winds from the SSW by Thu afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 8 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
16 | 25 | 23 | 16 | 12 | 11 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 30 | 22 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 23 | 30 | 28 | 50 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | off | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 7:26AM1.10m | 7:40PM1.21m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 1:34PM0.16m | 2:03AM0.11m | ||||||
— | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | |
7:45 | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | |
mm | 14 | 3 | 5 | 3 | — | 3 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 12 | 22 |
Temp °C | 25 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 25 |
Feels °C | 27 | 29 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 4 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | E 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 10 | SE 6 | ESE 9 |
7 | 13 | 19 | 16 | 5 | 11 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 30 | 22 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 23 | 30 | 9 | 50 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | NNE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | E 7 | SSE 5 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | E 15 | E 15 | E 14 | SE 6 | ESE 9 | E 12 |
16 | 25 | 23 | 12 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 15 | 8 | 28 | 11 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | E 4 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | SSE 6 | NE 5 | NE 5 | E 7 | — | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | E 13 | E 12 | E 6 |
4 | 1 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 12 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 4 | — | S 3 | SSW 3 | WSW 2 | — | — | — | — | — | N 4 | — | — | SE 4 | SE 2 | ESE 2 | — | — | SSE 5 |
7 | — | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 8 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 80 | 296 | 38 | 22 | 38 | 483 | 38 | 38 | 197 | 45 | 38 | 38 | 497 | 595 | 371 | 5 | 5 | 1070 | 99 |
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











