Jennette's Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you on this one. Looking at the next 16 days for the Outer Banks, and honestly, it’s a tough watch. We’re staring down a long, flat spell where the ocean just doesn't want to cooperate for paddle surfing. The first real chance of anything remotely rideable doesn't show up until Tuesday the 21st of July, and even then, it’s barely a whisper.

From now until then, the forecast is a graveyard of tiny waves, poor conditions, and onshore winds. There’s a bit of a bump on Sunday the 12th with swell hitting 6 ft (235 weak energy), but it’s coming from a short-period windswell with a messy cross-onshore wind and storm risk. That’s a beach setup that’s going to be chopped up and ugly – honestly, that’s more of a kite-surfing breeze than anything for a surfboard. The rest of that first week and a half is just flat, clean, and empty. It’s the kind of run that’s a bit normal for this area when the summer patterns stall out.

The only glimmer on the horizon is at Jennette’s Pier. On Tuesday morning, the 21st of July, we finally see a little pulse. The wind swings offshore from the west, and we get a 2 ft wave from the southeast with a light 7-second period. The combined energy is a paltry 53 (weak), and the guidance calls it “surfable but very ordinary.” For a pier break, that’s about as marginal as it gets. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The pick of the whole period, if you can call it that, is actually Wednesday morning, the 22nd of July. A 3 ft swell from the southeast with a 7-second period and a combined energy of 140 (still weak to moderate). The wind is a light offshore from the north-northwest. It’s small, it’s inconsistent, but it’s the cleanest and most energetic wave we’re going to see. For a beach/jetty setup, the light offshore wind is the only thing saving it. Don’t expect any power, and don’t expect any crowds to be absent – it’s a consistent spot, so the few people still checking the charts will be there.

So, in short: the next 10 days are a write-off. The best is a very small, clean window on the 22nd, but it’s a long way out and the forecast confidence is low. Don’t plan your week around it.

Rusty.

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