Overview

Surf City is the main town on Topsail Island, a long and narrow barrier island on North Carolina's southern coast. The beach faces southeast and receives Atlantic swells. Surf City is a popular surf and kite spot with locals from the Jacksonville/Camp Lejeune area. The island is less touristy than Wrightsville Beach, offering a more relaxed vibe. New Topsail Inlet to the east and the surf itself attract a committed rider community. Topsail Island is known as a sea turtle nesting site.

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Spot forecast for Surf City / Topsail Island

Sunrise 07:19 · Sunset 18:29

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< 7 kn7–12 kn13–20 kn21–30 kn31–40 kn41+ kn Gusts Your minimum: 7 kn

Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo

Swell and waves

Swell and tides over 8 days. Premium members see the swell and tides over 8 days. Without a subscription: 5 days.

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Wave height: < 0.5 m 0.5–1 m 1–2 m 2–3 m ≥ 3 m

Swell data by Open-Meteo Marine

Tides

Heights above lowest astronomical tide, in the spot's local time. Computed 5.9 km from the spot.

Monday 19 October High tide 02:17 · 1.2 m Low tide 08:24 · 0.5 m High tide 14:45 · 1.4 m Low tide 21:10 · 0.5 m
Tuesday 20 October High tide 03:17 · 1.2 m Low tide 09:16 · 0.5 m High tide 15:40 · 1.4 m Low tide 21:55 · 0.5 m
Wednesday 21 October High tide 04:10 · 1.3 m Low tide 10:08 · 0.5 m High tide 16:30 · 1.4 m Low tide 22:39 · 0.4 m
Thursday 22 October High tide 04:56 · 1.4 m Low tide 10:59 · 0.4 m High tide 17:14 · 1.5 m Low tide 23:22 · 0.4 m
Friday 23 October High tide 05:38 · 1.5 m Low tide 11:50 · 0.3 m High tide 17:57 · 1.5 m

Surf City / Topsail Island: when to go?

Rideable days and hours computed for a minimum wind of 7 knots · log in to set your own (foil, twin-tip…)

Season · peak

239h

in May · 29.5 rideable days

The season runs from March to September, peaking in May: 27 rideable days a month and 239 hours of usable wind, at 26 °C. The low point is January, at 12 days.

Rideable days per month

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 83%13-20 knots · 16%21-30 knots · 1%31+ knots · under 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 83% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at 11 °C. The wettest month is September, with 360 mm.

Monthly averages: Surf City / Topsail Island

Monthly averages — Surf City / Topsail Island — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month	Rideable days	Usable wind	Temperature	Rain
January	12.0	91 h	11 °C	112 mm
February	18.5	160 h	15 °C	26 mm
March	23.5	222 h	19 °C	58 mm
April	26.0	258 h	23 °C	85 mm
May	29.5	239 h	26 °C	212 mm
June	26.5	288 h	29 °C	111 mm
July	29.0	312 h	30 °C	195 mm
August	26.5	247 h	28 °C	327 mm
September	27.0	258 h	27 °C	360 mm
October	23.0	188 h	22 °C	29 mm
November	16.0	125 h	19 °C	22 mm
December	19.5	146 h	13 °C	106 mm

Photo gallery of Surf City / Topsail Island

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Technical details of Surf City / Topsail Island spot

The spot works with winds from N, NNE, NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S, SSW, SW.

Rideable Not rideable

Spot opening date · Required level

Spot opening date: Open all year round
Required level: Intermediate

On the water

Atlantic ocean waves with SE to NE swells. Moderate shore break. Sandy bottom with shifting sandbars. Good conditions in NE to S side-shore winds. The beach faces southeast, capturing dominant swells well. Moderate longshore current.

Hazards

Rip currents possible. Shore break can be strong. Stingrays. Jellyfish in summer. Sea turtle nesting area — respect marked nests. Busy swimming zone in summer. Afternoon thunderstorms possible in summer. New Topsail Inlet proximity to the east — watch for inlet currents.

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K3TXT3.8 kmsource CWOP / APRS-IS

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Additional stations

FW2794 Surf City3.8 km

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source noaa
FW2794 Surf City NC US3.8 km

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source madis - NOAA

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Webcams near Surf City / Topsail Island

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Nearby spots

All spots: North Carolina

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Surf City / Topsail Island kitesurf, wingfoil and windsurf spot