Surf Forecasts:
Oceanic Pier surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period, S swell with 45 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 0.9m 5s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Oceanic Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – the next week or so at Oceanic Pier is a bit of a flat spell. We’ve got tiny, short-period leftovers and a lot of “poor surf conditions” flags. The combined swell energy is dribbling along in the low 20s to 40s (weak), so it’s really not worth paddling out for. There’s a big gap of nothing until we start seeing something vaguely rideable around Monday the 31st of August.
That Monday morning, the 31st, we finally get a pulse of long-period groundswell from the SE at 19 seconds, with a tiny 0.3 ft wave. The combined energy is still only 77 (weak), and it’s described as “surfable but very ordinary.” The wind is a light cross-offshore from the SSW, so the surface will be clean, but the wave height is tiny. It’s not a standout, just the first sign of life.
The real interest – and the only standout in this entire 16-day window – kicks off on Wednesday the 2nd of September. That morning we see a jump to 3 ft of SE swell, period 12 seconds, with a combined energy of 279 (moderate). The wind is WSW at 9 mph, putting it in the cross-offshore zone, and the conditions are clean. This is the best call of the whole forecast. The wave state is clean, and the swell is picking up enough to give you a little push. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual. It’s a beach/pier setup, fairly exposed to the swell, and the optimum direction is NE, so this SE swell is a bit off-angle but still going to work. Crowds are possible here – it’s a consistent spot, so you won’t be alone.
Later that Wednesday afternoon the wind swings more onshore and the size drops, so the morning session is the clear winner. After that, the following days stay small and choppy or onshore, with poor conditions. The 4th of September has a brief window of 3 ft surf with a NW cross-offshore, but the energy is still moderate at 165. It’s surfable but ordinary. By the 5th and 6th, we’re back to onshore winds and tiny, weak waves.
So, the takeaway: nothing for the first week. Mark your calendar for Wednesday morning, September 2nd – that’s your best shot at a clean, fun little session at Oceanic Pier. The rest of the window is a write-off.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 33°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 31°C on Fri morning, min 25°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | ||||||||||||||
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 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | SE 12 | ESE 11 | SE 9 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | S 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 35 | 13 | 13 | 29 | 27 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 31 | 29 | 28 | 45 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:43AM0.97m | 5:33PM1.21m | 5:37AM1.00m | 6:21PM1.25m | 6:27AM1.05m | 7:05PM1.29m | 7:12AM1.10m | 7:45PM1.32m | 7:53AM1.15m | 8:22PM1.33m | 8:33AM1.21m | 8:58PM1.32m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 2:18PM0.08m | 2:52AM0.09m | 2:59PM0.07m | 3:29AM0.06m | ||||||
— | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | |
7:50 | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:43 | — | |
mm | 3 | — | — | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | 4 | 2 | — | 4 |
Temp °C | 28 | 29 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 33 | 31 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 28 |
Feels °C | 30 | 31 | 32 | 29 | 32 | 33 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | S 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 12 | ESE 9 | S 5 | S 6 | SE 10 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 |
12 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 35 | 8 | 20 | 24 | 27 | 8 | 8 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 31 | 29 | 28 | 26 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | E 7 | ESE 11 | SE 9 | SE 11 | E 7 | SE 9 | SE 9 | E 16 | E 14 | E 8 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 |
14 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 1 | 13 | 13 | 29 | 1 | 22 | 21 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 13 | ESE 12 | E 8 | E 7 | — | E 7 | ESE 11 | E 7 | — | E 7 | — | E 6 | — | E 14 | — | — | — | — | — |
7 | 15 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 12 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | — | S 6 | — | — | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | SSW 5 | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 |
— | — | 20 | 17 | 27 | 43 | 40 | — | 16 | — | — | 13 | 16 | 16 | 22 | 29 | 34 | 56 | 45 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3 | 238 | 585 | 624 | 159 | 261 | 3 | 3 | 761 | 689 | 874 | 1134 | 238 | 261 | 1224 | 550 | 280 | 622 | 286 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.











