North Carolina
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Avalon Pier for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Avalon Pier, North Carolina. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Tue, Jun 30: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 2-3ft and poor with barely a breath of wind. Afternoon breeze fills in to 8mph.
Wed, Jul 1: 2–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2ft waves on E swell at 7s and gentle SE breeze. The SE wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor by then.
Thu, Jul 2: 2–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 2ft and poor - fair with calm winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 8mph.
Fri, Jul 3: 2–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 2ft waves and poor - fair conditions with moderate WSW wind around 7mph.
Sat, Jul 4: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with moderate WSW wind around 9mph.
Avalon Pier in Kill Devil Hills is one of the most consistently rideable breaks on the Outer Banks, which also makes it consistently packed. The pier helps organize sandbars that produce mainly rights, and conditions can transform overnight from mushy to sand-sucking barrels. NE groundswells from nor'easters deliver the best waves, especially during winter months when the pier break really comes alive.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Avalon Pier is 2ft with a 6.65s swell period. Wind is NNE at 10mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Avalon Pier is 2ft, produced by a 3.4ft ENE primary swell at 7s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Avalon Pier is Tuesday from 5 PM to 8 PM with 2ft waves, a 6.65s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Avalon Pier works best with a NE swell and W winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Avalon Pier. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Avalon Pier is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Avalon Pier in Kill Devil Hills is one of the most consistently rideable breaks on the Outer Banks, which also makes it consistently packed. The pier helps organize sandbars that produce mainly rights, and conditions can transform overnight from mushy to sand-sucking barrels. NE groundswells from nor'easters deliver the best waves, especially during winter months when the pier break really comes alive.
The prime season at Avalon Pier is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Avalon Pier include pier pilings, crowds, rip currents, can get hollow and powerful. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Avalon Pier forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable. Extended forecasts show general trends. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
