
Surf Forecasts:
Surf City Pier surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 11 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period, SE swell with 82 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 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 Tuesday (Aug 11) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 6s 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 0.9m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Tue 11th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Tue 11th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sun 16th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Surf City Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ at Surf City Pier.
Honestly, if you’re lookin’ for a proper session, this stretch is gonna be a tough sell. The whole 16-day run is a flat, windy mess, with only a few moments that are *surfable* but nothin’ to get excited about. The water temp is sittin’ at 83°, which is about average for the time of year—nothing unusual there.
The first real chance to wet a line comes Tuesday morning, the 11th of August. We get a tiny 3 ft swell from the SSW, period of 5 seconds, so it’s weak and short-period. The wind’s a light cross-offshore from the WSW at 6 mph, so conditions are clean. But the energy is only 54, so don’t expect much push. It’s small, weak, and just barely surfable. That’s the best we’ve got for the first few days.
Wednesday morning the 12th is glassy—wind from the NW at 3 mph, dead calm. Swell drops to 2 ft from the SW, period still 5 seconds. It’s clean, but the wave energy is only 48. You could paddle out and enjoy the quiet, but it’s pretty ordinary.
Then we hit a long dry spell. From Thursday the 13th through Sunday the 16th, the wind’s mostly cross or cross-on, and the swell barely moves. It’s all poor surf conditions. The energy values stay under 100, and the period is short. Not worth a look.
Monday the 17th is still poor, but by Tuesday morning the 18th, something changes. The swell period jumps to 15 seconds—that’s a very long period groundswell. The energy hits 186, which is moderate. Swell height is only 2 ft from the SE, but with that long period, there’s shape. The wind is light cross-off from the WNW at 3 mph, so it’s clean. This is a standout for the period, but it’s tiny. It’ll be glassy, clean, and the sets will be spaced out, but you’ll be fighting for a small wave. This is a good one for a longboard or a funboard if you’ve got the patience.
Wednesday the 19th sees energy climb to 293 with a 3 ft swell from the SE at 12 seconds—still moderate energy. But the wind is howlin’ cross-on from the E at 16 mph, so it’s choppy. The swell is there, but the wind ruins it. This is a kite-surfing setup, not a paddle session.
The rest of the run into the 25th is more of the same: small swell, poor wind, and low energy. There’s a brief moment Monday morning the 24th with glassy conditions and 2 ft, but it’s weak and short-period. Not worth changin’ plans for.
So, bottom line: the only real standout is Tuesday morning, August 18th. That long-period groundswell, light offshore wind, and clean conditions make it the pick of the litter, even if it’s small. For the rest, it’s a whole lot of nothin’.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 34°C on Tue afternoon, min 24°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 34°C on Fri afternoon, min 24°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | ||||||||||||||
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 | SW 5 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | S 5 | SE 8 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | S 5 | S 5 | S 6 | E 5 | E 5 | E 5 | ESE 6 | SE 6 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
19 | 39 | 22 | 19 | 15 | 17 | 11 | 10 | 15 | 24 | 18 | 36 | 42 | 64 | 43 | 57 | 49 | 33 | 28 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | off | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross |
High Tide | 6:33AM1.25m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:44AM0.03m | 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 | |||||||
— | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | |
8:02 | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — | |
mm | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 31 | 32 | 34 | 31 | 29 | 33 | 29 | 31 | 34 | 31 | 31 | 34 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 33 | 34 | 34 | 32 | 33 | 36 | 33 | 33 | 35 | 33 | 34 | 37 | 35 | 31 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 6 | S 5 | SE 6 | SE 8 | SSW 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | ESE 8 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | ESE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 4 |
6 | 14 | 6 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 18 | 6 | 42 | 25 | 16 | 10 | 49 | 33 | 8 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 6 | ESE 9 | — | SE 8 | — | — | SE 8 | — | — | SE 8 | E 12 | ESE 8 | SE 9 | — | SE 9 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 8 |
3 | 6 | 7 | — | 10 | — | — | 10 | — | — | 10 | 3 | 6 | 3 | — | 3 | 5 | 2 | 28 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | SE 9 | — | — | E 11 | — | — | — | — | E 13 | E 12 | — | E 11 | SE 7 | E 10 | — | SE 9 | SE 9 | — |
1 | 3 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 3 | 3 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 5 | SW 5 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | S 5 | — | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | — | S 5 | — | E 5 | E 5 | E 5 | — | — | S 4 |
19 | 39 | 22 | 19 | 15 | 17 | 11 | — | 15 | 24 | — | 36 | — | 64 | 43 | 57 | — | — | 9 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 6 | 0 | 2593 | 59 | 80 | 1949 | 1578 | 1804 | 882 | 47 | 80 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 825 | 194 | 629 | 1205 | 410 |
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.











