Surf Forecasts:
Masonboro Inlet surf forecast from 23 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 29 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period, SSW swell with 135 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 1.4m 6s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 29) 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 7s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 30) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Masonboro Inlet over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at the Masonboro Inlet forecast for the next couple of weeks. The water temp is sitting at 84.2°, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing freaky going on there.
Honestly, I gotta be straight with you — the next 16 days are a real struggle for surf. The whole run starts with a big fat zero. The first chance of anything even slightly rideable doesn’t pop up until the afternoon of Friday, August 7th, which is over two weeks away. That’s a long, dry gap.
Up until that point, it’s a menu of tiny, short-period slop and onshore junk. Thursday afternoon, July 23rd, has a tiny 3ft swell from the SSW with a weak 5-second period, and the combined energy is a measly (60), but it’s glassy. The problem is, it’s just poor surf. The next few days offer nothing but 1.3ft to 2ft of wind-affected dribble. The wind is mostly cross or cross-on, and the scores are all zeros. Even Tuesday afternoon, July 28th, kicks up a bit to 4ft, but it’s a short-period 5-second thing from the SSW with a fresh cross-onshore wind making it lumpy and ugly. Not worth the paddle.
Finally, we get to the afternoon of Friday, August 7th. There’s a 3.6ft swell from the south, with a 6-second period, and the combined energy is (86). The wind goes glassy, and the surf is described as “surfable” but with “very ordinary conditions.” That’s the only thing on the board. It’s not a standout, it’s just the only game in town. The break is an advanced-level, inconsistent beach/jetty setup that’s fairly exposed to the NE swell, but this south swell is a bit off-optimum. Crowds are often a problem here, so you’ll have company.
For the whole 16-day window, this is the only moment that might be worth a look. For everything else, I’d leave the board in the car.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 46mm), heaviest during Fri morning. Warm (max 28°C on Thu afternoon, min 23°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 32°C on Wed morning, min 25°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | S 6 | S 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | E 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 37 | 31 | 53 | 50 | 46 | 37 | 37 | 23 | 42 | 42 | 29 | 32 | 21 | 27 | 25 | 70 | 135 | 0 | 60 | 1 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:25PM1.17m | 4:26AM0.94m | 5:17PM1.19m | 5:19AM0.94m | 6:07PM1.22m | 6:10AM0.96m | 6:53PM1.25m | 6:57AM0.98m | 7:36PM1.27m | 7:41AM1.01m | 8:16PM1.29m | 8:21AM1.04m | 8:53PM1.30m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:52PM0.26m | 10:52AM0.14m | 11:46PM0.24m | 11:44AM0.13m | 00:36AM0.21m | 12:32PM0.11m | 1:22AM0.17m | 1:18PM0.09m | 2:05AM0.14m | 2:01PM0.07m | 2:46AM0.11m | 2:42PM0.06m | 3:24AM0.09m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | | |  |  | | | | | | |  | |  | | |
 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | 8:19 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — |
mm | 5 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 3 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 4 |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 32 | 34 | 25 |
Feels °C | 31 | 32 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 33 | 35 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | SSW 5 | S 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | S 6 | SE 8 | SE 7 |
| kJ | 25 | 31 | 53 | 50 | 46 | 37 | 13 | 14 | 42 | 42 | 29 | 32 | 21 | 22 | 25 | 17 | 14 | 73 | 40 | 51 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | — | — | — | — | E 5 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ENE 4 | SSW 5 | E 4 | S 6 | NE 6 | E 7 | E 7 | NE 7 | ESE 8 | — | — | SSW 7 |
| kJ | 23 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 37 | 23 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 14 | — | — | 34 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 9 | — | SSW 5 | — | SW 4 | E 6 | — | SE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | E 8 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 9 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 5 | S 5 | S 5 | S 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 4 | ENE 3 | ENE 4 | E 4 | — | — | S 6 | S 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | ENE 2 |
| kJ | 37 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 4 | 15 | 23 | 4 | 7 | 3 | — | — | 15 | 27 | 23 | 70 | 135 | 135 | 60 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 5 | 229 | 2 | 273 | 37 | 5 | 5 | 115 | 115 | 588 | 240 | 240 | 852 | 550 | 521 | 510 | 472 | 43 | 267 | 5 |
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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