Jennettes Pier Surf Forecast, North Carolina
North Carolina
Current Conditions
PoorWave Height
1-2ft
ankle to knee high
Swell Period
5.8s
Wind
14mph
SSW / Gusts 23mph
Conditions
Poor
Active Swells
Primary
1.9ft @ 6sSE
Secondary
1.1ft @ 9sENE
Tertiary
0.3ft @ 14sENE
Wind Swell
2.2ft @ 4sSSW
Nearest Webcam
Daily Forecast
3 of 5 daysTue, Mar 311-2ft
Poor6am9am12pm3pm
Wed, Apr 11-2ft
PoorA slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with 11mph SSW winds.
6am9am12pm3pm
6s SE|11-14mph SSW
Thu, Apr 22-3ft
PoorSlim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with light SSW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 11mph.
6am9am12pm3pm
7s ESE|4-11mph SSW
3ft
Swell building Sat, Apr 4Fair
9s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
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Jennettes Pier Surf Spot Guide
Break
Beach
Bottom
Sand
Level
Intermediate
Crowd
Heavy
Best Swell
NE
Best Wind
W
Season
Winter
Jennette's Pier in Nags Head has been an OBX surf landmark since the 1940s, with sandbars around the concrete pier that stay remarkably consistent. NE swells produce good lefts while SE swells create quality rights. December offers the highest percentage of clean, rideable waves. The pier houses NC Aquarium exhibits and provides one of the OBX's most recognizable surf cam views.
Dangerous rip currentsPier pilingsCrowded lineupMinimum distance rules from pier
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
Jennettes Pier Surf Forecast FAQ
What is the current surf forecast for Jennettes Pier?
The current wave height at Jennettes Pier is 1-2ft with a 5.8s swell period. Wind is SSW at 14mph. Conditions are rated Poor.
How accurate is the Jennettes Pier surf forecast?
Our Jennettes 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.
What is the breaking wave height at Jennettes Pier?
The current breaking wave height at Jennettes Pier is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.9ft SE primary swell at 6s, a 1.1ft ENE secondary swell at 9s, a 0.3ft ENE tertiary swell at 14s, a 2.2ft SSW wind swell swell at 4s. 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.
When is the best time to surf Jennettes Pier?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Jennettes Pier is Saturday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 3ft waves, a 8.65s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.