Surf Forecasts:
Masonboro Inlet surf forecast from 21 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 23 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 23 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period, SSW swell with 145 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 23 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period with S swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Masonboro Inlet this week:
The surf forecast for Masonboro Inlet over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 23) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Masonboro Inlet in the next 16 days are 1.4m 6s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 23) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5PM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 5PM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Masonboro Inlet over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – the next sixteen days are looking pretty grim for a paddle. We’ve got one spot to look at, Masonboro Inlet, and honestly, there’s next to nothing that’s going to get a surfer out of bed.
The first week is a total write-off. From Tuesday the 21st right through to the end of the month, the swell is weak, short-period, and mostly from the south. The wind is almost always junk – cross-shore or cross-onshore – making a mess of an already marginal setup. The wave energy never gets out of the weak bracket, with peak readings only hitting 125 (moderate energy) but paired with terrible conditions. You’ll see a few moments on the afternoon of the 23rd and the morning of the 25th where it’s “surfable but very ordinary,” but with a 1ft to 4ft S swell and a period of just 6 seconds, it’s not worth the drive. The odd glassy patch on the 24th and 25th is a tease, but the swell is too small and weak to hold your interest.
The second week offers no hope either. From the 28th of July all the way through to the 5th of August, we’re looking at tiny, weak surf – often under 2ft – with energy levels dropping into single digits. That’s a combined energy of just 8 to 85, which is weak. The wind does go clean a few times, like the morning of the 30th and the 31st, but with swell heights of 0.5ft to 2ft, you’re not going anywhere. The morning of the 1st of August has a 3ft SSW swell, but with a 6-second period and onshore wind, it’s a messy, blown-out knee-high affair.
This is a blank run, and for this area, it’s not unusual. It’s a pretty consistent stretch of poor conditions. Forecasts can change, but right now, there’s nothing to chase. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.
For the kite surfers out there, given the persistent cross and onshore winds and the small, choppy waves, this setup might be more interesting for you than for a paddle surfer.
Stay patient, folks. The ocean will come back.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Thu afternoon. Warm (max 31°C on Tue afternoon, min 26°C on Thu afternoon). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 46mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 27°C on Fri afternoon, min 23°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 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) | SSW 5 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSW 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 42 | 64 | 125 | 0 | 20 | 24 | 145 | 101 | 74 | 16 | 51 | 51 | 46 | 56 | 48 | 45 | 40 | 34 | 49 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 1:50AM1.07m | 2:39PM1.17m | 2:40AM1.01m | 3:32PM1.16m | 3:32AM0.96m | 4:25PM1.17m | 4:26AM0.94m | 5:17PM1.19m | 5:19AM0.94m | 6:07PM1.22m | 6:10AM0.96m | 6:53PM1.25m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:01PM0.18m | 8:17AM0.09m | 8:57PM0.23m | 9:07AM0.12m | 9:55PM0.26m | 9:59AM0.14m | 10:52PM0.26m | 10:52AM0.14m | 11:46PM0.24m | 11:44AM0.13m | 00:36AM0.21m | 12:32PM0.11m | 1:22AM0.17m | ||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | | |  |  | | | | | | |  |  | |
 | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — |
 | 8:21 | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:16 | — |
mm | 5 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 6 | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
Feels °C | 31 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 31 | 32 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 31 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | — | — | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SSW 5 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 6 |
| kJ | 9 | 20 | — | — | 20 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 16 | 27 | 51 | 51 | 46 | 56 | 24 | 45 | 40 | 34 | 23 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 8 | S 5 | SSW 5 | E 6 | — | ESE 7 | — | S 5 | SSE 6 | ESE 8 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | 12 | 8 | 1 | — | 48 | — | 11 | 6 | 23 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 6 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 5 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SSW 7 | S 6 | SSW 6 | S 6 | S 6 | — | — | — | SE 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | — | SSW 5 | SSW 6 |
| kJ | 42 | 64 | 125 | 215 | 175 | 171 | 145 | 101 | 74 | — | — | — | 14 | 11 | 40 | 15 | — | 9 | 49 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 548 | 1225 | 1225 | 470 | 335 | 283 | 335 | 133 | 0 | 37 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 17 | 157 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Masonboro Inlet Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Masonboro Inlet provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Masonboro Inlet can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Masonboro Inlet 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 (Masonboro Inlet) 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 Masonboro Inlet 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.
Masonboro Inlet is 13 km (8 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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