
Surf Forecasts:
Surf City Pier surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 11 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 5s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 6s period, SSW swell with 97 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 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 Tuesday (Aug 11) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 6s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Surf City Pier in the next 16 days are 1.2m 6s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) 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 0.6m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Surf City Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break this down in feet and miles per hour. Rusty here, and I’m telling you straight – the next couple of weeks are a slow burn. We’ve got a long stretch of flat or blown-out days, so don’t get your hopes up early.
Water temp at Surf City Pier is around 83°, which is right where it should be for August.
From Tuesday the 11th all the way to Wednesday the 20th, it’s a whole lot of nothing. Swell heights are barely hitting 3 ft, and the combined energy is mostly in the weak range (20 to 73). The wind is a constant pain – cross-onshore, choppy, just messy. There’s a glassy moment on the morning of Thursday the 13th, but the waves are only 1 ft. Not worth paddling out.
The one day that stands out – and I mean the only one – is Wednesday the 19th of August. The morning brings a 3 ft swell from the ESE with a 11-second period and combined energy of 158 – that’s solid, moderate energy. The wind is a light cross-onshore, but that longer period will give it some push. The forecast still calls it "poor surf conditions," so it’s not a classic, but it’s the pick of a grim bunch.
After that, we’re back to tiny stuff. Thursday the 20th has a 2 ft swell with glassy winds in the morning – "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions" is the word. From the 21st to the 26th, it’s the same story: waist-high slop, short periods, and cross-onshore winds chopping it all up. Combined energy stays between 29 and 92 – weak. A few clean moments on the 23rd, 24th, and 26th, but with waves of 2 ft to 3 ft and short periods, it’s not worth the drive.
Your play here is to wait for Wednesday the 19th, and maybe keep an eye on the long-range. It’s a dry spell, but it won’t last forever.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 34°C on Wed afternoon, min 24°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 35°C on Fri afternoon, min 25°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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 4 | SSW 5 | SE 8 | S 5 | SW 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | S 5 | SSW 6 | S 6 | S 6 | E 6 | ESE 6 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 6 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
19 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 23 | 25 | 97 | 51 | 27 | 69 | 36 | 16 | 29 | 37 | 36 | 72 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off |
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 | 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 | ||||||||
— | — | 6:28 | — | — | 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 | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 31 |
Temp °C | 33 | 30 | 30 | 34 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 29 | 31 | 35 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 29 | 32 | 24 |
Feels °C | 34 | 31 | 33 | 36 | 33 | 33 | 34 | 31 | 34 | 36 | 32 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 31 | 33 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 6 | SE 8 | SSW 5 | SE 8 | SSW 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | ESE 8 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
6 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 6 | 55 | 51 | 27 | 11 | 36 | 14 | 29 | 37 | 31 | 35 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | — | SE 8 | — | SE 8 | — | — | — | SE 8 | E 12 | E 11 | E 10 | ESE 8 | — | S 5 | SE 7 | SE 8 | E 6 | — | SE 16 |
7 | — | 11 | — | 11 | — | — | — | 10 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 | — | 5 | 16 | 2 | 1 | — | 10 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 8 | E 11 | E 8 | — | E 8 | — | E 13 | E 12 | — | — | — | — | — | S 8 | S 5 | — | — | E 18 | — |
— | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | 6 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | — | S 5 | SW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | S 5 | S 5 | SSW 6 | ENE 3 | E 4 | E 6 | — | — | SSE 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | S 6 |
19 | 20 | — | 11 | 22 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 23 | 25 | 97 | 4 | 24 | 69 | — | — | 13 | 11 | 36 | 72 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1930 | 6 | 83 | 2056 | 0 | 870 | 2056 | 870 | 1530 | 2056 | 0 | 1060 | 996 | 509 | 839 | 862 | 356 | 356 | 436 | 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.











