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.
Sun, May 10: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Fair. Consistent 1-2ft surf through the day on ESE swell at 6s with moderate SSE wind around 9mph.
Mon, May 11: 2–3ft, 10s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with moderate WNW wind around 10mph. Afternoon breeze fills in to 18mph.
Tue, May 12: 4–5ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 4-5ft and poor - fair with moderate NNE wind around 12mph.
Wed, May 13: 3–4ft, 7s period, rated Fair - Good. Rideable all day with 3-4ft waves on E swell at 7s and light winds out of the S. Expect the wind to bump up to around 12mph by PM.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 12s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on E swell at 7s and light W winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the NNE and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
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 6.4s swell period. Wind is SSE at 9mph 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 ESE primary swell at 6s, a 1.1ft E secondary swell at 9s, a 0.5ft E tertiary swell at 13s, a 0.3ft SE wind swell swell at 1s. 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 4ft waves, a 7.4s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. 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.
