The Inlet and Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s be real. It’s gonna be a tough wait for waves at The Inlet and Pier. The water’s real warm, way warmer than usual for this time of year at about 80°F, so that’s something if you just want to float. But the surf is just not happening. The energy’s weak, and the swell direction is all over the place, mostly not helping. We’re looking at a real dry spell, and if you’re a paddler, you might be better off finding something else to do for a bit.

The next week and a half is grim. From Friday the 14th all the way through to Sunday the 23rd, there’s not a single decent wave on the cards. We're talking flat spells and junk. Friday morning’s got a tiny 0.3ft ripple with a light cross-shore, and it's just poor. The afternoon’s glassy but still only 0.7ft – a total lake. Saturday the 15th kicks up a bit of wind, but the swell stays tiny and messy. It’s a long, flat, and bumpy stretch. Sunday the 16th gets a little more energy but it’s short-period and onshore, which is just a mess. The only thing that’s surfable at all is Tuesday afternoon the 18th, when that 2ft south-southeast swell at 12 seconds rolls in, but even that’s just “very ordinary.” The wind goes glassy, so it’ll be clean, but there’s just not enough push. That 90 value of combined energy is still weak. It’s a cruel tease.

The following Monday and Tuesday (24th and 25th) are just as bad, with the swell dropping right back down. The wait goes on. We finally see a hint of something on Thursday the 27th. The combined energy starts to climb, moving into moderate territory at 107 on the Thursday afternoon with a 2ft east-southeast swell at 12 seconds. But the wind’s cross-onshore, so it’s not going to be pretty. Friday the 28th looks a bit better, with a cross-offshore breeze and the swell holding at 2ft, but the energy is moderate, in the 87-105 range. It’s still small. The real promise is Saturday the 29th. The swell gets a little bigger, around 3ft from the east at 6-7 seconds, and the energy is up to 115. But the wind is cross-shore, creating some chop. It’s the biggest of the run but still not a standout by any means. It’s more of a last-chance, better-than-nothing option.

Look, to be honest, there’s nothing on offer here that’s worth getting excited about. For a beginner, the swell’s never big enough to be a problem, but there’s nothing to ride anyway. For the experts, it’s just a frustrating run of flatness. The Inlet and Pier is a beach and jetty setup, and with this small, weak, and mostly onshore energy, it’s looking more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer. Keep the board in the car and the expectations low. Forecasts can change, but this is a tough one.

Rusty

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