Surf Forecasts:
Surf City Pier surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 2 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 11s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 11s period, SE swell with 142 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 2 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 11s period with SE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Surf City Pier this week:
The surf forecast for Surf City Pier over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 3s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Surf City Pier in the next 16 days are 0.8m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Surf City Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s in store. Honestly, it’s a rough patch ahead for our area. For the next week and a half, it’s mostly small, weak, and messy. There’s a bigger pulse around the second week of September, but it comes with its own headaches. Right now, it’s all about picking the cleanest windows, not the biggest waves.
Starting at Surf City Pier, we’re in a flat spell right off the bat. The water temp is about normal for this time of year. Sunday the 30th offers tiny 1ft swell from the ESE with a short 8-second period and weak energy (29). The morning is glassy though, so if you’re desperate, a longboard might get you over some knee-high bumps. The whole first week is a bust. Swell heights mostly stay under 3ft with short periods, and combined energy is mostly in the weak 2-digit range. Winds are a mixed bag—some glassy mornings, but often crossing or cross-onshore, making things choppy. There’s a long stretch of days where the surf just isn't worth it.
Now, around Wednesday, September 9th, things get interesting, but it’s not a gift. The morning shows a 4ft swell from the SW with a period of 6 seconds and moderate energy (256). The wind is a light, clean cross-offshore from the WSW, which will smooth things out. This is the first standout of the whole 16 days. It’s not huge, but it’s the most push we’ve seen. However, that short period means the waves won’t have much punch or shape. The afternoon of September 10th jumps to 6ft from the SSW with a 7-second period and strong energy (309). That size is getting into expert-only for a beach break, and the wind, while still cross-off, is blowing at 12 mph. It’s going to be a bit of a mess, and with that short period, it could be a washing machine. The smarter call is the morning of the 9th for something you can actually paddle into.
The morning of September 11th offers a smaller 3ft pulse from the S with an 8-second period and moderate energy (109). The wind turns offshore from the WNW at 9 mph, which is the cleanest wind we see for any of the bigger days. That’s the best combo of size, direction, and wind in the whole outlook – a real glassy morning with some proper little waves. For the rest of the second week, it drops right back off into tiny, flat conditions.
To wrap it up: for the next week, leave the board at home. The standout is the morning of Wednesday, September 9th for a clean 4ft wave, but keep your expectations in check given the short period. If you can hold out, the offshore morning of Friday, September 11th with 3ft swell might be the most fun, cleanest session of the lot. This stretch is a real test of patience.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Warm (max 30°C on Tue afternoon, min 25°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 34°C on Fri afternoon, min 25°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | ||||||||||||||
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 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
26 | 26 | 34 | 26 | 29 | 37 | 36 | 25 | 33 | 101 | 124 | 100 | 68 | 65 | 38 | 34 | 17 | 32 | 39 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | glassy | on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:04PM1.52m | 9:25AM1.49m | 9:41PM1.46m | 10:07AM1.55m | 10:21PM1.39m | 10:52AM1.58m | 11:04PM1.30m | 11:42AM1.60m | 11:54PM1.21m | 12:40PM1.60m | 00:51AM1.14m | 1:45PM1.60m | 1:58AM1.10m | ||||||
Low Tide | 3:12AM0.04m | 3:30PM0.06m | 3:46AM0.03m | 4:16PM0.09m | 4:23AM0.03m | 5:07PM0.14m | 5:05AM0.05m | 6:03PM0.20m | 5:54AM0.07m | 7:06PM0.25m | 6:51AM0.09m | 8:17PM0.28m | |||||||
— | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | |
7:39 | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:34 | — | — | 7:31 | — | |
mm | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 |
Temp °C | 26 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 29 | 30 | 34 | 30 |
Feels °C | 29 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 29 | 32 | 33 | 30 | 32 | 33 | 31 | 31 | 35 | 33 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
26 | 26 | 34 | 26 | 29 | 37 | 36 | 25 | 33 | 101 | 124 | 100 | 68 | 65 | 38 | 34 | 17 | 17 | 17 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | S 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | — | — | — | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 7 | E 6 |
3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | 8 | 27 | 25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 6 | E 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 3 | SW 3 | SSW 3 | SSW 4 | SW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 32 | 39 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 227 | 80 | 2106 | 231 | 227 | 1205 | 586 | 205 | 1216 | 36 | 36 | 552 | 0 | 54 | 436 | 0 | 436 | 689 | 194 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Surf City Pier Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Surf City Pier provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Surf City Pier can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Surf City 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 (Surf City 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 Surf City 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.
Surf City Pier is 37 km (23 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.











