Surf Forecasts:
Surf City Pier surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 5s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 12s period, SE swell with 114 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s 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 0.6m 12s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Surf City Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s on the cards for Surf City Pier. I gotta be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are looking pretty flat and ordinary. There’s a big gap of quiet days before we even see a flicker of hope.
The run starts on Wednesday, August 26th, and honestly, it’s a write-off. Tiny 1 ft swell out of the SE with cross-onshore winds and weak energy (26). It stays like that through Thursday and Friday, with the swell struggling to reach 3 ft on Friday but with a windswell period of only 5 seconds and rubbish wind. Saturday morning the 29th is the first time we get a clean look – a little 1 ft SE swell with light offshore WNW wind. The energy is still weak (44), and it’s surfable, but it’s really just small waves for a longboard or a foiler.
From there we hit another flat spell. Sunday the 30th is glassy in the morning but still only 2 ft. Monday the 31st is tiny. There’s a long stretch of poor conditions and low energy readings all the way through to the end of the first week of September.
The first real standout comes on Wednesday morning, September 2nd. Finally, some energy shows up. We get a 2 ft SE groundswell with a 12-second period and moderate wave energy reading of 114. The morning has light cross-offshore WSW wind, keeping things clean. This is the pick of the early run – small but clean, with some proper push from the longer period. It’s not big, but for a little sandbar break, those conditions will be fun on a high-performance log or a fish.
The next notable morning is Saturday, September 5th. There’s a 3 ft swell from the ENE, with a 5-second period and moderate energy again (119). The wind is light cross-shore from the SSW. It’s surfable, but that short period will make it a bit lumpy and fat on the sandbar. Not a standout, but worth a look if you’re desperate.
Then on Tuesday, September 8th, the morning glass-off is worth mentioning. It’s a 2 ft E swell, just enough to wrap in with an 8-second period. Light airs and glassy conditions, which will make it look better than it is. Combined energy is weak (45), but glassy windows in a flat spell are gold for the patient surfer.
The last glimpse is on Thursday, September 10th: a 2 ft SSE swell with a cross-offshore NNE breeze and clean conditions. It’s the tail end of the run, and energy is still low (59). Not a day to set your alarm for, but if you’re local, you’ll have it to yourself.
Overall, the best chance for a proper surf will be early Wednesday morning, September 2nd. The combination of a long-period (12s) SE groundswell and light offshore wind is your best bet for the whole 16 days. Crowds are possible here, so keep that in mind.
Water temp is about average for the time of year, no major anomaly to report.
Stay keen, and don’t write it off completely – it can change.
– Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 59mm), heaviest during Thu afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 24°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 30°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | S 5 | SSW 5 | S 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
22 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 30 | 41 | 49 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 19 | 24 | 23 | 38 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross | glassy | glassy | cross | on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:17PM1.54m | 7:30AM1.26m | 7:53PM1.56m | 8:08AM1.34m | 8:28PM1.55m | 8:46AM1.42m | 9:04PM1.52m | 9:25AM1.49m | 9:41PM1.46m | 10:07AM1.55m | 10:21PM1.39m | 10:52AM1.58m | 11:04PM1.30m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:43PM0.11m | 1:35AM0.16m | 1:25PM0.07m | 2:07AM0.11m | 2:05PM0.05m | 2:39AM0.07m | 2:47PM0.05m | 3:12AM0.04m | 3:30PM0.06m | 3:46AM0.03m | 4:16PM0.09m | 4:23AM0.03m | 5:07PM0.14m | ||||||||
6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | |
— | 7:44 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — | |
mm | — | — | 10 | 5 | 17 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 15 | — | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 28 |
Feels °C | 29 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 33 | 33 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 5 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | S 5 | ESE 8 | S 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 |
22 | 21 | 21 | 16 | 30 | 31 | 27 | 28 | 11 | 26 | 26 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 19 | 24 | 23 | 12 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | E 16 | ESE 4 | SE 9 | E 13 | E 12 | ESE 8 | E 11 | ESE 8 | SSE 5 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 4 | E 9 | — | — | — | — | SSW 4 | SE 14 | SE 12 |
2 | 5 | 3 | 20 | 3 | 3 | 28 | 2 | 27 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 7 | 38 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 4 | E 8 | E 7 | E 8 | — | E 12 | — | E 11 | E 10 | — | — | E 9 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 15 | SE 10 | SE 9 |
— | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | — | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 4 | 13 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 3 | SE 4 | S 4 | — | S 5 | S 5 | SSW 5 | S 5 | S 5 | — | S 5 | S 4 | — | S 4 | — | — | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | SW 3 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 |
2 | 7 | 3 | — | 24 | 41 | 49 | 25 | 16 | — | 7 | 3 | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 10 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 839 | 1979 | 616 | 56 | 1204 | 130 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 80 | 205 | 80 | 80 | 1179 | 1151 | 780 | 1205 | 1205 | 1719 | 1205 | 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.











