Wrightsville Beach Surf Outlook: December 12–19, 2025

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH SURF OUTLOOK: DECEMBER 12–19, 2025

Issued 6:30 AM December 12. Note: This content will become less and less relevant with time.
By Mark Willis

Outlook Summary

• Minimal surf with warming weather through Saturday
• Sunday stays small but watching a cold front move in
• Small NE/ENE windswell into early week with bitterly cold temperatures
• Minor midweek ESE swell bump later week with warmer weather

Discussion: Today through Sunday (12/12–12/14)

Minor SE swell and local windswell are expected over the next couple of days.
We will see a warming trend through Saturday with developing SW winds, but surf
remains knee high or less. Sunday stays small around knee high, but a strong cold
front will move through later in the day bringing increasing N winds and the start
of very cold temperatures. Morning low tides will likely be your best chance for a
minor longboard wave this weekend. Keep expectations low.

Friday (12/12): Marginal. Knee high or less surf expected.
Light NE winds becoming variable to E in the afternoon.

Saturday (12/13): Shin to knee high surf continues. The morning low tide
around 8:40 AM is likely the only window for a minor longboard wave. Semi-clean to
clean conditions with SW winds.

Sunday (12/14): Knee-high range surf. Clean in the morning with W to SW winds.
Watching for cold, strong N winds to develop behind a cold front in the afternoon.
Minor NE windswell late.

Discussion: Early Week (Dec 15–16) – The Arctic Plunge

Very strong and very cold high pressure builds into the region early next week.
This will generate some NE/ENE windswell, but size looks limited due to the steep
N/NE direction.

Monday (12/15): Bitterly cold . Surf knee to thigh high.
Poor quality due to moderate N winds and severe cold.

Tuesday (12/16): ENE swell around shin to knee high. Temperatures
begin to rebound in the afternoon. Marginal quality
due to minimal size despite clean conditions.

Discussion: Mid to Late Week (Dec 17–19) – The Longboard Window

Minor but slightly improved surf is expected midweek as high pressure moves over
and offshore. A small ESE/SE swell increase is possible later in the week along
with a warming trend.

Wednesday (12/17): Small but clean knee-high ESE swell.
Good quality but small. Loggable on the right tides.

Thursday (12/18) & Friday (12/19): BEST WATCH WINDOW.
Slight increase allows occasional knee to thigh high sets. Warmer weather and clean
conditions make this the most promising longboard window of the forecast.
Good quality.

Final Notes

Best short-term option is morning low tide longboard waves this weekend.
Later next week brings warmer weather and a modest ESE swell, which is the
main window to watch.

Gear Check

COLD SHOCK ALERT: Water temperatures crash to the low 50s by Tuesday
morning due to the Arctic Plunge with air lows near 20°F Monday morning.
Full cold-water gear is mandatory.

Wrightsville Beach surf forecast December 12-19, 2025. This is face heights, so 1-2′ is shin to knee high. Green color = fair/good conditions, Yellow = Marginal, Red = Poor.