North Carolina
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.
Sat, May 16: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Fair. Expect 2-3ft all day on ENE swell at 10s with glassy conditions — nothing amazing but surfable. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 15mph.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Fair. Expect 2-3ft all day on ENE swell at 9s with moderate SW wind around 8mph — nothing amazing but surfable. Expect the wind to bump up to around 17mph by PM.
Mon, May 18: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Aim for the middle of the day — 2-3ft on ESE swell at 8s with light SSW winds. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Tue, May 19: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Fair. Consistent 2-3ft surf through the day on ESE swell at 9s with light winds out of the SW. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
Wed, May 20: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Fair. Rideable all day with 2-3ft waves on ESE swell at 9s and gentle SW breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 12mph.
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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 2-3ft with a 8.9s swell period. Wind is WSW at 7mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Jennettes Pier is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.8ft ENE primary swell at 10s, a 1.4ft ESE secondary swell at 9s, a 0.7ft N tertiary swell at 4s, a 0.9ft S wind swell swell at 2s. 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 Saturday from 5 PM to 8 PM with 3ft waves, a 9.2s swell period, and conditions rated 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
