North Carolina
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.
Sun, May 10: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with 10mph SE winds.
Mon, May 11: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 2-3ft and poor conditions with 11mph NW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 18mph.
Tue, May 12: 4–5ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 4-5ft waves and poor - fair conditions with 11mph NNE winds.
Wed, May 13: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on E swell at 8s with gentle SSW breeze. Onshore flow builds through the day to 15mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 12s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on E swell at 7s with 8mph from the WSW. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
8s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
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 6.55s swell period. Wind is SSE at 9mph 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 1-2ft, produced by a 1.2ft E primary swell at 8s, a 0.4ft E secondary swell at 13s, a 1.8ft ESE 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 Avalon Pier is Thursday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 3ft waves, a 6.7s swell period, and conditions rated 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
