Surf Forecasts:
Masonboro Inlet surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 21 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 6s period, SSW swell with 170 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Masonboro Inlet this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Masonboro Inlet in the next 16 days are 1.6m 6s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.1m 7s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Tue 21st Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Masonboro Inlet over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey, Rusty here. Let’s talk about the next 16 days for Masonboro Inlet. Honestly, most of this stretch is a bust. From Friday July 17 right through to Monday July 27, there’s pretty much nothing worth paddling out for – the data shows a long, dry gap of about 11 days with tiny scraps of swell and cross or onshore winds that just ruin any chance of decent surf. Then, on Tuesday July 28, we finally get a brief window of surfable conditions in the morning.
Masonboro Inlet is a beach/jetty setup that’s inconsistent and often crowded, so you’ve got to pick your moments. The early morning on Tuesday July 28 serves up 4ft of swell from the SSW with a short 5-second period – combined swell energy is weak at 72. But the wind is glassy: SW at 3 mph, so the surface will be clean. Water temp sits at 82°F, about average for this time of year. The problem is the swell is small and short-period, so it’s not going to be anything special. It’s only for advanced surfers, and even then it’s just ordinary. The optimum swell direction here is NE, and we’re getting SSW – not ideal. After that morning, the wind picks up and by afternoon it’s cross-onshore and choppy again. The rest of the period after the 28th drops back to poor conditions.
So, truth is, there’s no standout session in this outlook. That Tuesday morning is your only hope, but it’s a long-range call, so don’t lock it in. The break is inconsistent, so this kind of blank run isn’t unusual for the area. Keep an eye on updates – things can change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 33°C on Sun afternoon, min 26°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 50mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 32°C on Mon afternoon, min 23°C on Thu morning). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | ||||||||||||||
PM | 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 8 | ESE 8 | S 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | E 13 | E 12 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | SSW 6 | S 7 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 13 | 6 | 7 | 17 | 113 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 170 | 0 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 24 | 33 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 11:28PM1.34m | 12:05PM1.21m | 00:15AM1.25m | 12:56PM1.20m | 1:02AM1.16m | 1:47PM1.18m | 1:50AM1.07m | 2:39PM1.17m | 2:40AM1.01m | 3:32PM1.16m | 3:32AM0.96m | 4:25PM1.17m | 4:26AM0.94m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:22PM-0.05m | 5:57AM-0.04m | 6:14PM0.03m | 6:43AM-0.00m | 7:07PM0.11m | 7:29AM0.04m | 8:01PM0.18m | 8:17AM0.09m | 8:57PM0.23m | 9:07AM0.12m | 9:55PM0.26m | 9:59AM0.14m | 10:52PM0.26m | |||||||
 |  | | |  | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — |
 | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:19 | — |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 48 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 32 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 33 | 29 | 30 | 32 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 25 | 29 | 27 |
Feels °C | 32 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 32 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 22 | 29 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | — | S 7 | — | — | S 7 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 8 | — | SE 8 | SE 9 | S 7 | S 7 | S 6 | S 6 |
| kJ | 13 | 6 | 6 | 6 | — | 107 | — | — | 74 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 7 | — | 16 | 19 | 147 | 69 | 28 | 18 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 13 | E 13 | — | — | E 13 | E 12 | SE 8 | — | — | — | SE 7 | — | — | — | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
| kJ | — | — | 4 | 3 | — | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | 18 | 16 | 20 | 20 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 3 | SSW 4 | S 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | S 7 | SSW 7 | — | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SSW 6 | S 7 | S 7 | SSW 7 | — | NE 3 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 |
| kJ | 5 | 5 | 7 | 17 | 113 | 186 | 200 | 203 | — | 84 | 101 | 86 | 170 | 262 | 161 | 307 | — | 6 | 24 | 33 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1557 | 1564 | 1777 | 592 | 335 | 288 | 510 | 43 | 37 | 240 | 335 | 557 | 584 | 370 | 549 | 335 | 288 | 39 | 37 | 549 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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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