Surf Forecasts:
Oceanic Pier surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 12s period, SE swell with 35 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Oceanic Pier this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Oceanic Pier in the next 16 days are 0.4m 12s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Oceanic Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, mate, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next stretch.
Honestly, it’s a rough start. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty flat and uninspiring for us at Oceanic Pier. The first few days are all small dribble with poor conditions. We’re seeing a long run of tiny, weak swell barely breaking, with a mix of cross and onshore winds that are just killing any chance of a decent wave. The water temp is sitting around 83°, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.
The first real glimpse of anything worth paddling out for doesn’t show up until Thursday the 3rd of September. Thursday morning brings a bit of a pulse – 4 ft of swell from the NE, but with a short 5 second period, so it’s messy and weak. The wind is light and cross-off, keeping it clean, but the wave energy is moderate (110). They call it surfable but ordinary, and I’d agree – it’s a goer if you’re desperate, but nothing to get excited about. That’s the only real standout in the whole 16-day window, and it’s a pretty weak one. The rest of the time, it’s mainly 1 ft to 2 ft of SE windswell with short periods, and the wind is all over the shop – cross, cross-on, and onshore much of the time. There are a few mornings with a glassy or offshore wind, like on the 23rd and 28th of August, but the swell is just too small to make anything of it.
For a beginner, this might be a good time to stay on the sand and practice pop-ups. The swell never gets above 5 ft, so it’s not dangerous, but there’s just no wave face to work with. The longer period swells (12-13 seconds) that show up on the 22nd and 23rd of August are tiny and weak, barely 0.7 ft, so they’re not going to produce anything.
All in all, there’s no real call to get the wetsuit on for a proper session. The only date with any pulse is Thursday the 3rd of September, and even then, it’s ordinary. A blank run like this is part of the game here, but it won’t last forever. Keep an eye on the forecasts.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 31°C on Thu morning, min 24°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 27mm), heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 32°C on Sun afternoon, min 25°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | SE 12 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 35 | 13 | 12 | 29 | 27 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 13 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:48PM1.16m | 2:49AM0.96m | 3:44PM1.16m | 3:46AM0.95m | 4:40PM1.18m | 4:43AM0.97m | 5:33PM1.21m | 5:37AM1.00m | 6:21PM1.25m | 6:27AM1.05m | 7:05PM1.29m | 7:12AM1.10m | 7:45PM1.32m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:22AM0.21m | 9:14PM0.34m | 9:17AM0.23m | 10:13PM0.34m | 10:15AM0.24m | 11:10PM0.32m | 11:11AM0.22m | 00:03AM0.28m | 12:03PM0.18m | 00:51AM0.23m | 12:51PM0.14m | 1:34AM0.17m | 1:36PM0.11m | 2:14AM0.12m | |||||||
6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | |
— | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | |
mm | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | 4 | 1 | — | 9 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 14 | — | 1 | 6 |
Temp °C | 31 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 28 | 28 | 32 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 31 | 29 |
Feels °C | 34 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 32 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 31 | 33 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 5 | SE 10 | SE 9 | S 6 | SE 9 | SE 9 |
17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 22 | 15 | 21 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 27 | 22 | 32 | 21 | 13 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 5 | — | E 6 | S 3 | SE 15 | SE 10 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 13 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | E 7 | E 7 | SE 9 | — | E 15 |
1 | — | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 35 | 13 | 12 | 29 | 1 | 1 | 21 | — | 4 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | E 6 | — | E 6 | E 6 | SE 14 | ESE 13 | E 8 | E 8 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | S 7 | S 6 | SE 6 | E 7 | — | — | E 7 | E 16 | SE 6 |
1 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 8 | 18 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 5 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 3 | — | S 3 | S 4 | S 4 | S 5 | S 5 | — | S 6 | SW 6 | — | S 5 | S 4 | — | S 5 | SSW 5 | — | S 6 | SSW 6 |
— | — | 1 | — | 2 | 7 | 13 | 39 | 27 | — | 30 | 15 | — | 13 | 9 | — | 15 | 45 | — | 22 | 84 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 976 | 853 | 1137 | 976 | 1688 | 41 | 280 | 280 | 96 | 36 | 159 | 3 | 36 | 238 | 320 | 581 | 473 | 36 | 3 | 863 | 159 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Oceanic Pier Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Oceanic Pier provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Oceanic Pier can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Oceanic 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 (Oceanic 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 Oceanic 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.
Oceanic Pier 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.











