North Carolina
Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 1-2ft with gentle SW breeze.
Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 1-2ft with gentle SW breeze.
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Aim for the middle of the day — 2-3ft on ESE swell at 9s with gentle SW breeze. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 4s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on WSW swell at 3s with moderate WSW wind around 12mph. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on W swell at 4s and 17mph out of the W. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 2-3ft and mostly very poor with 14mph NNE winds.
Mon, Sep 7: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 3-4ft and very poor with 16mph NE winds.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor today — get one free email when Avalon Pier turns Good.
Check Avalon Pier from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 1-2ft with a 8.5s swell period. Wind is SSW at 5mph. 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 1-2ft, produced by a 1.8ft ESE primary swell at 9s, a 1.3ft NE wind swell swell at 6s, a 0.5ft S wind swell swell at 3s. 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 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 9.9s 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. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
