
Surf Forecasts:
Surf City Pier surf forecast from 23 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 28 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 6s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 29 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 7s period, SSW swell with 282 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 23 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 5s period with SSW 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 Thursday (Jul 23) at 2PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s is also forecast. 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 1.8m 7s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2PM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Tue 28th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Surf City Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the menu for the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, the first few days are a bit of a struggle. We’ve got a small, weak swell rolling in, but the wind is all over the place—mostly cross or cross-onshore—and there’s a risk of thunderstorms hanging around. The waves are tiny, mostly around 2ft to 3ft, with a short period of 5-8 seconds, so it’s pretty gutless. The water temp is sitting at a warm 84°, which is about average for this time of year, but the quality just isn’t there for a proper session.
Thursday the 23rd afternoon is the first real flicker of hope. The wind goes glassy, the swell is a tiny 3ft from the SSW, and the energy is weak at 85. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. Saturday the 25th has a few clean windows with offshore wind in the afternoon, but the swell is still only 2ft.
The real standout doesn’t show up until Wednesday the 29th. The wind swings offshore from the NW, and we get a 3ft swell from the south with a period of 7 seconds. The energy jumps to 202 (moderate), and the forecast is clean. This is the best of the early window. Thursday morning the 30th is also glassy with a 3ft S swell, but the energy is lower.
Then we hit a bit of a lull through the end of July and into August. The swell picks up a bit on Sunday the 2nd of August, hitting 5ft from the south, but the wind is onshore and messy, making it look average. The real highlight for the whole outlook is Tuesday morning, the 4th of August. We get a 5ft S swell with glassy conditions and a southwest wind that’s practically still. The energy is strong at 296, and it’s the first time we see a proper "good surf conditions" call. That’s the one to circle on the calendar for the more experienced crew—it’s a bit too big for beginners at 5ft, and with a short period of 6 seconds, it’s going to be a bit punchy and dumpy on the beach, but the clean conditions will make it a fun session.
After that, the swell drops back down to 2ft-3ft for the rest of the run, with mostly cross-onshore wind, so it fizzles out. The best bet is definitely Tuesday the 4th morning.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 49mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 30°C on Thu morning, min 24°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 36mm), heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 34°C on Tue afternoon, min 23°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 5 | SSW 5 | S 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | S 7 | S 7 | SSW 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
55 | 37 | 27 | 53 | 50 | 46 | 44 | 44 | 48 | 41 | 63 | 28 | 22 | 22 | 49 | 46 | 114 | 282 | 94 | 112 | 150 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:01PM1.35m | 4:07AM0.91m | 4:54PM1.37m | 5:02AM0.91m | 5:43PM1.41m | 5:52AM0.93m | 6:28PM1.45m | 6:37AM0.98m | 7:09PM1.49m | 7:19AM1.02m | 7:48PM1.52m | 7:59AM1.08m | 8:24PM1.53m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:04AM0.15m | 10:34PM0.30m | 9:56AM0.16m | 11:29PM0.28m | 10:47AM0.16m | 00:17AM0.25m | 11:36AM0.13m | 1:00AM0.21m | 12:22PM0.10m | 1:38AM0.17m | 1:05PM0.07m | 2:14AM0.13m | 1:46PM0.05m | 2:48AM0.09m | |||||||
6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | |
— | 8:17 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | |
mm | 2 | 4 | 14 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 28 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 30 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 34 | 31 | 30 | 33 | 32 |
Feels °C | 31 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 27 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 32 | 33 | 31 | 32 | 35 | 33 | 33 | 36 | 35 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | S 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 |
23 | 25 | 22 | 53 | 50 | 46 | 44 | 44 | 48 | 41 | 63 | 28 | 22 | 22 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 187 | 94 | 112 | 124 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 8 | — | — | — | — | SSW 4 | SE 9 | SSW 4 | ENE 4 | SSW 5 | E 5 | S 5 | S 6 | SE 10 | E 6 | — | SE 8 | SW 6 | E 9 | E 9 |
— | 23 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | 17 | 59 | 2 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | S 6 | E 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | SSW 5 | S 5 | S 5 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | — | SSW 4 | — | ENE 5 | — | — | SSW 5 | SSW 4 | S 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | — | SSW 7 | SSW 7 |
55 | 37 | 27 | 21 | 27 | 3 | — | 1 | — | 15 | — | — | 4 | 13 | 49 | 46 | 114 | 282 | — | 88 | 150 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 552 | 0 | 194 | 213 | 227 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 194 | 54 | 227 | 1000 | 298 | 6 | 862 | 54 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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.










