
Surf Forecasts:
Surf City Pier surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 12 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 5s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period, ESE swell with 102 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 5s period with SW 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 (Aug 12) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 8s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Surf City Pier in the next 16 days are 1.3m 6s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Surf City Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey folks, Rusty here with a look at what we’ve got coming at Surf City Pier over the next couple of weeks. Gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough run. There’s no real swell to speak of for the first week and a half, so don’t be in a rush to wax up.
Right now, and for most of the next week, we’re stuck with tiny, weak waves. The water temp here is sitting around 83°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year. Tuesday the 11th is looking at ankle-to-knee high junk from the SSW, with a measly 5-second period. The wind is light and cross-off in the morning, keeping it clean, but with combined swell energy at just 16, there’s nothing to ride. That pattern holds for days – small, weak, and mostly choppy or crossed up in the afternoons. We get a slight bump on Saturday the 16th with a 4ft swell from the ESE, and the energy kicks up to 172 (moderate), but the wind is straight onshore in the morning and cross-onshore later, so it’ll be a mess. Not worth it.
The real glimmer of hope, and the only standout in this whole 16-day window, is Wednesday morning, August 19th. The combined swell energy jumps to 220 (moderate), pushing clean 2ft waves from the SE. The period is 12 seconds – that’s a proper groundswell – so the waves will have some push and form. The wind is light and cross-off from the NE, meaning the lineup should be glassy and clean. It’s not big, but it’ll be the best shape we see by a long shot. Keep your eyes on this morning session, because the afternoon turns onshore and messy.
After that, we slip back into the doldrums. The 22nd and 23rd have glassy mornings with small, ordinary surf, but nothing that’ll get your heart pumping. For the rest of the run into late August, it’s back to tiny, weak, and mostly windy. If you’re a kiter, the afternoon breezes might give you something to play with, but for a paddle surfer, there’s not much to get excited about until that Wednesday the 19th rolls around.
Be patient, wait for that Wednesday glass-off, and I'll see you in the water.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 33°C on Tue afternoon, min 23°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 35°C on Fri afternoon, min 25°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 5 | ESE 9 | SSW 4 | SW 5 | SE 8 | SSW 5 | S 5 | SSW 4 | S 5 | SSW 5 | S 5 | S 6 | SSE 6 | E 5 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | SE 6 | SSE 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
7 | 9 | 18 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 13 | 18 | 29 | 43 | 13 | 32 | 36 | 55 | 102 | 87 | 44 | 34 | 30 | 43 | 44 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 7:12PM1.79m | 7:29AM1.34m | 8:02PM1.78m | 8:22AM1.43m | 8:50PM1.73m | 9:12AM1.48m | 9:35PM1.63m | 10:01AM1.51m | 10:20PM1.51m | 10:49AM1.50m | 11:04PM1.37m | 11:38AM1.47m | 11:49PM1.23m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:30PM-0.16m | 1:34AM-0.04m | 1:27PM-0.18m | 2:21AM-0.08m | 2:21PM-0.16m | 3:05AM-0.10m | 3:14PM-0.11m | 3:48AM-0.08m | 4:05PM-0.04m | 4:29AM-0.04m | 4:57PM0.06m | 5:10AM0.02m | 5:49PM0.16m | ||||||||
6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | |
— | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:54 | — | |
mm | — | — | 6 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 |
Temp °C | 31 | 33 | 30 | 28 | 33 | 29 | 28 | 31 | 29 | 32 | 35 | 32 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 30 | 33 | 25 |
Feels °C | 34 | 34 | 31 | 30 | 35 | 32 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 35 | 37 | 36 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 33 | 35 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 5 | SE 6 | SE 8 | SSW 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | SE 6 | S 6 | SSE 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 8 | SSE 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
7 | 6 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 12 | 32 | 36 | 18 | 6 | 69 | 44 | 28 | 16 | 43 | 44 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 6 | ESE 9 | — | SE 8 | — | — | SE 8 | — | — | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | — | — | SSW 6 | SSE 9 | — | SE 8 | — | — |
6 | 7 | — | 10 | — | — | 10 | — | — | 6 | 6 | 9 | 7 | — | — | 6 | 15 | — | 30 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | — | E 8 | E 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 12 | E 11 | — | — | — | SE 8 | SE 9 | — | — | — | E 6 |
3 | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | 10 | 12 | — | — | — | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 3 | SSW 4 | SW 5 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 4 | S 5 | SSW 5 | S 5 | — | E 4 | E 5 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | — | SSE 5 | S 5 | S 4 | S 5 |
— | 9 | 18 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 13 | 18 | 29 | 43 | 13 | — | 22 | 55 | 102 | 87 | — | 34 | 24 | 16 | 27 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1653 | 2593 | 1653 | 878 | 1949 | 80 | 1653 | 2593 | 655 | 1804 | 205 | 76 | 655 | 839 | 629 | 586 | 668 | 586 | 245 | 561 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











