Best Time to Surf Surf City (2026)
Surf City, North Carolina— Month-by-month surf guide
0
Good
Surfing in May
May
1 of 1 beaches are in peak season right now. Expect 1-3 ft waves and 68°F water. Peak month: July.
Surf Score by Month
Score reflects overall surf quality each month — combining peak season activity, water temperature, and crowd levels.
Monthly Breakdown
January
0
Waves3-5 ft
Water temp50°F
Wetsuit4/3mm + boots
CrowdsLow
Beaches peaking0
Nor'easters, empty Outer Banks
February
0
Waves3-5 ft
Water temp48°F
Wetsuit4/3mm + boots
CrowdsLow
Beaches peaking0
Winter storms, sandbar formation
March
0
Waves2-4 ft
Water temp52°F
Wetsuit4/3mm
CrowdsLow
Beaches peaking0
Transition swells
April
0
Waves2-3 ft
Water temp58°F
Wetsuit3/2mm
CrowdsModerate
Beaches peaking0
Spring cleanup days
May
0
Waves1-3 ft
Water temp68°F
Wetsuitspring suit
CrowdsModerate
Beaches peaking1
Small but clean
June
0
Waves1-3 ft
Water temp75°F
Wetsuitboardshorts
CrowdsHigh
Beaches peaking1
Summer begins, tourist season
July
0
Waves1-3 ft
Water temp78°F
Wetsuitboardshorts
CrowdsHigh
Beaches peaking1
Warm water, occasional tropical swell
August
0
Waves2-4 ft
Water temp80°F
Wetsuitboardshorts
CrowdsHigh
Beaches peaking1
Hurricane swell season begins
September
Peak0
Waves3-8 ft
Water temp78°F
Wetsuitboardshorts
CrowdsModerate
Beaches peaking1
Peak hurricane swells
October
Peak0
Waves3-6 ft
Water temp72°F
Wetsuitspring suit
CrowdsModerate
Beaches peaking0
Fall swells, crowds thin out
November
Peak0
Waves3-6 ft
Water temp62°F
Wetsuit3/2mm
CrowdsLow
Beaches peaking0
Nor'easters + hurricane tail-ends
December
0
Waves3-5 ft
Water temp55°F
Wetsuit4/3mm
CrowdsLow
Beaches peaking0
Winter storms setting in
Dawn Patrol vs Afternoon Sessions
Dawn Patrol
- Typically glassier conditions before onshore winds build
- Smaller crowds, especially on weekdays
- Water temps at their coolest — plan your wetsuit for the low end (50°F in winter)
- Best for beach breaks and exposed reef setups in Surf City
Afternoon Sessions
- Onshore winds can create chop, but swell is often more consistent
- Higher crowds on popular beaches, especially weekends
- Water warms through the day — upper end (80°F in summer)
- Sunset sessions can be magic when winds die down
Top Surf Spots in Surf City
Surf City
beginner-intermediatemoderate
Peak: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
