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Last Update: 5/16/2026 12:00

Link to Free Surf Cams: Beach Cams

Week of 5/16 - 5/23

Friday and Saturday were fun; hope y’all got a few!

Sunday looks fun with new south wind swell mixing in with some leftover east swell and offshore winds.

We could see another weak south swell on Wednesday or Thursday. The wind forecast is unclear at this time.

Looking ahead, we may see another east swell next weekend. Lots of uncertainty at this time on that one.

Saturday 5/16

Time Wave Direction Swell Height Period Energy Percentile Wind Direction Wind Speed Water Level
06:00 95 3.9 9.4 72.8 WSW 4.2 1.3
08:00 95 3.8 9.4 72.1 SW 5.1 1.6
10:00 95 3.7 9.4 69.8 SSW 7.1 -0.2
12:00 95 3.5 9.2 66.1 S 11 -2.3
14:00 95 3.6 9.1 65.8 S 14.9 -2.8
16:00 165 4.4 8.9 60.3 S 18 -0.6
18:00 165 5.1 8.9 65.9 SSW 20 1.8
Time Angle 1 Swell 1 Period 1 Angle 2 Swell 2 Period 2 WW Angle Wind Wave WW Period
08:00 112.5 2.8 9.8 157.9 1.8 8.4 0 0 0
14:00 109 2.3 9.6 0 0 0 172.4 2.8 8.9
20:00 105.5 1.8 9.6 0 0 0 183.8 5.2 5.3
Time Tide Height (ft)
01:22 L -0.34
07:22 H 4.78
13:19 L -0.27
19:39 H 6.03

Leftovers likely, but the swell angle looks pretty bad for our region. Look for lefts. Really fun before the wind gets on it.

Conditions are clean with variable or light offshore wind in the AM. Wind shifts out of the south for the afternoon as high pressure moves off NC.

Notes: Avoid the high tide but don’t go when it’s too low.

Sunday 5/17

Time Wave Direction Swell Height Period Energy Percentile Wind Direction Wind Speed Water Level
06:00 175 4.2 7 28 WSW 10.2 -0.2
08:00 175 4 7.5 31.7 WSW 9 1.2
10:00 165 3.9 7.6 36.6 WSW 5.8 0
12:00 165 3.8 7.5 35.5 SW 4.1 -2.2
14:00 165 3.7 7.5 34 S 6 -3.3
16:00 165 3.6 7.5 32.6 S 8.4 -2.1
18:00 165 3.5 7.5 31 SSW 8.4 0.7
Time Angle 1 Swell 1 Period 1 Angle 2 Swell 2 Period 2 WW Angle Wind Wave WW Period
08:00 180.7 3 6.2 135.9 2.2 8.2 283.1 1 2.8
14:00 162.8 3.3 7.8 0 0 0 0 0 0
20:00 0 0 0 0 0 0 168.1 3.6 7.7
Time Tide Height (ft)
02:16 L -0.49
08:14 H 4.8
14:12 L -0.28
20:29 H 6.03

Model outputs have trended better than I expected. This is now looking pretty fun. We’ll definitely have some tide issues with the massive 6 1/2 ft swing.

If this holds, I’d expect breaking waves in the stomach+ range with good shape from the combo swell. We have some leftover east swell mixing in with new south wind swell.

Conditions should be clean in the AM before getting some south wind chop on it in the afternoon. I’d plan on getting out there in the early AM at a spot that works on the higher tide.

Note: Looking fun. Watch the tide and afternoon wind.

Best board: Small wave performance board or longboard.

Monday 5/18

Time Wave Direction Swell Height Period Energy Percentile Wind Direction Wind Speed Water Level
06:00 165 2.6 7.8 21.4 SE 4.4 -0.9
08:00 165 2.5 7.8 19.7 E 5.5 1
10:00 165 2.4 7.8 18.2 ESE 6 0.8
12:00 164.9 2.3 7.7 16.8 ESE 6 -1.1
14:00 165 2.3 7.7 15.8 SE 7 -2.7
16:00 165 2.3 7.7 15.1 SSE 7.5 -2.6
18:00 165 2.2 7.7 14.7 SSE 7.7 -0
Time Angle 1 Swell 1 Period 1 Angle 2 Swell 2 Period 2 Angle 3 Swell 3 Period 3 WW Angle Wind Wave WW Period
08:00 144.8 1.7 7.7 174 1.7 5.6 0 0 0 0 0 0
14:00 143.6 1.6 7.6 167.2 1.3 5 132.4 0.2 13.8 0 0 0
20:00 143 1.6 7.5 132.8 0.2 13.6 0 0 0 169.5 1.1 4.8
Time Tide Height (ft)
03:08 L -0.54
09:08 H 4.75
15:05 L -0.21
21:23 H 5.88

Enough for a longboard on the mid-lower tide. Good for newer surfers with decent shape expected and not too much wind to ruin it completely.

Notes: Not clean, but worth a look for learners to get some uncrowded longboard waves.

Best board: longboard

Tuesday

No surf expected with strong south winds by afternoon.

Wednesday

Time Wave Direction Swell Height Period Energy Percentile Wind Direction Wind Speed Water Level
06:00 165 2.7 8.2 27.3 SSW 9.6 -1.6
08:00 165 2.8 5 3.2 SSW 9.5 0.3
10:00 165 2.9 5.2 4.4 SSW 11.5 1.2
12:00 165 3.2 5.3 6 SSW 14.1 -0.3
14:00 165 3.7 5.3 8.5 S 17.1 -2
16:00 165 4.2 5.3 12.3 SSW 19.5 -2.9
18:00 165 4.6 5.5 16.4 SSW 20 -1.4
Time Tide Height (ft)
04:00 L -0.48
10:06 H 4.67
15:57 L -0.05
22:21 H 5.63

Possible poorly directed south swell. Not expecting much, but it should be enough for a longboard at worst. Cross-offshore wind expected for doable but imperfect conditions.

Thursday 5/20

Time Wave Direction Swell Height Period Energy Percentile Wind Direction Wind Speed Water Level
06:00 175 3.5 6 11.4 SW 11.8 -2.6
08:00 175 3.4 6 10.1 SW 11 -0.7
10:00 175 3.3 6 9.2 SSW 10.6 0.9
12:00 175 3.3 6 9.3 SSW 13.6 0.3
14:00 175 3.7 5.9 11.5 SSW 17.2 -1.2
16:00 175 4.3 5.7 13.3 SSW 18.2 -2.4
18:00 165 4.3 5.8 18.6 SSW 17.1 -2.2
Time Tide Height (ft)
04:51 L -0.31
11:08 H 4.59
16:52 L 0.2
23:22 H 5.34

Possible leftover swell with a complicated wind forecast.

Notes: Low expectations

Looking Ahead

Next weekend is still up in the air with model outputs in disagreement. We have strong high pressure over western Canada as well as high pressure dominating over the central Atlantic. Models are suggesting we could see a low develop between these two regions. If that develops and strengthens, it would be well situated in our swell window. If not, well, find something else to do.

More info on that as we get closer.

Looking even further ahead, model outputs look very different for the end of the month. I wouldn’t put too much stock in anything you see for that time period for a little while longer.

All data sourced from NOAA NWPS and GFS Wave

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