Wrightsville Beach Surf Outlook: May 15–May 22, 2026

Wrightsville Beach Surf Outlook: May 15–May 22, 2026

Issued 6:30 AM May 15. Note: Forecast based on early Friday morning data. While broad patterns usually hold, forecast shifts occur—verify conditions before heading out.

Fri–Mon:Small SE Swell; Morning High Tides

Tue–Wed: Lingering Small SE Swell; Better Morning TidesLate Week: Watching Next Front for More Wind swell Towards Weekend

 

Quality Legend: 🟢 = Fun/Clean; 🟡 = Marginal to Fair; 🔴 = Poor/Blown Out.
Vibe Legend: ✨=Clean; 🧘=Small; 🌬️=Breezy; 🌅=Sunrise/Early Window; 🪵=Loggable; 😎=Warm; 📈=Building; ❓=Uncertain.

---

Today through Sunday (5/15–5/17): Small SE Swell; Morning High Tides

Small SE swell is reaching the area this morning, with Buoy 41110 checking in around 2–3 ft at 6–7 seconds in a mix of local windswell and E/SE swell. This should be good for 1.5–2.5’+ (knee to thigh high) surf today, with occasional waist-high sets possible at top spots. Meanwhile, high pressure is building into the region behind a cold front, producing light to moderate NW/N winds and overall clean to semi-clean conditions early. Expect winds to become variable and ultimately shift South later today, which will add texture to the surf.

Small SE swell continues to produce mostly 1.5–2.5′ surf on the face this weekend. Winds around offshore high pressure will be mostly southerly, with the cleanest conditions found in the mornings when winds are lighter and more SW. Winds pick up out of the South each afternoon this weekend, producing bumpier PM surf. We have morning high tides this weekend (6:39 AM Fri / 7:24 AM Sat / 8:10 AM Sun), so choose your AM longboard spots wisely as many breaks may struggle with the extra water.

• 5/15 (Friday): 1.5–2.5’+ knee to thigh high SE swell. Waist-high sets noted. High 76°F. Early NW/N winds shift South PM. Quality: 🟡.
• 5/16 (Saturday): 1.5–2.5′ SE swell. High 78°F. Favorable light SW morning winds; breezy South winds and bumpier in the PM. Quality: 🟡 / 🔴.
• 5/17 (Sunday): 1.5–2.5′ SE swell. High 81°F. Best early; bumpy afternoon. Quality: 🟡 / 🔴.

---

Looking Ahead: Lingering SE Swell; Better Midweek Tides; Watching Late Week Front

Offshore high pressure dominates the weather pattern early to mid-next week. This produces more small but rideable SE swell in the knee to thigh high zone, with occasional waist-high sets possible at standout spots.

Tuesday (5/19) and Wednesday (5/20) are the standout days with surf pushing into the 2–3′ (knee to waist high) range. We see a more favorable morning lower tide window by the middle of next week when winds and conditions will also be at their best. With the high tide pushing later into the morning (9:57 AM Tue / 11:41 AM Wed), the early mornings will see a decent combination of favorable winds and tides.

Offshore high pressure keeps the SE/S mix running through Thursday. There are indications the pattern may break down as we move into Friday when the next front may impact the area. This brings potential for a slightly stronger mix of local windswell and lingering SE swell heading into next weekend, with surf pushing into the 2–3′ (waist high) range. Confidence in details remains low this far out.

• 5/18 (Monday): 1.5–2.5′ knee to thigh high SE swell. High 82°F. Best winds and conditions early. Quality: 🟡.
• 5/19–5/20: 2–3′ SE swell. Highs in the low 80s. Clean with best tides in the AM; bumpier PM. Quality: 🟢 / 🟡.
• 5/21 (Thursday): 1.5–2.5′ SE/S mix. High 84°F. Quality: 🟡.
• 5/22 (Friday): 2–3′ building windswell. Watching next front. Quality: 🟡.

---

Final Thoughts

Small SE swell for the weekend with morning high tides remaining the main factor. Lingering small SE swell continues into next week, with a better combination of morning winds and tides as we move into the middle part of next week. Overall, it looks like longboard and higher volume board surf for the next week, but it does appear a shade above flat and overall could definitely be worse.

Updated WB water temp forecast: After a slight cool down today, temperatures should hover around 70° into next week before warming into the low 70s later next week. Recommended gear would be a spring suit, short arm full, or trunks with some sort of top depending on preference.