North Carolina
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Jennettes Pier for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Jennettes 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. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on ENE swell at 6s with glassy conditions. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Wed, Jul 1: 2–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 2ft and poor - fair with light winds out of the SE. Afternoon breeze fills in to 10mph.
Thu, Jul 2: 2–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 2ft waves and poor - fair conditions with light S winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 9mph.
Fri, Jul 3: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. The sweet spot is around midday — 1-2ft waves, gentle SW breeze, poor - fair conditions. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
Sat, Jul 4: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on ESE swell at 9s with gentle WSW breeze. Onshore flow builds through the day to 13mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
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.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Jennettes Pier is 2ft with a 6.6s swell period. Wind is NNE at 11mph 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 Jennettes Pier is 2ft, produced by a 3.8ft ENE wind swell 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 Jennettes Pier is Wednesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 6.65s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Jennettes 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 Jennettes 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.
Jennettes Pier is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. 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.
The prime season at Jennettes Pier is winter, 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 Jennettes Pier include dangerous rip currents, pier pilings, crowded lineup, minimum distance rules from pier. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
