Third Street
Hourly
Confidence
Compare
⏱️s.
⚡️kJ
Saturday 08
Sunday 09
Monday 10
Tuesday 11
Wednesday 12
Thursday 13
Tap a forecast cell to explore conditions on the map.
Timezone: America/New_York
Wind: GFS (20251107 18z)
Waves: GFS WAVE (20251107 18z)

Third Street surf guide

Third Street is a surf spot located between Avalon Pier and 1st Street, making it a fairly reliable zone to catch some waves. This area is open to a variety of swells, including northeast and tropical swells, and can be surfed at all tides. The quality of the surf largely depends on the sandbars, which can shift due to the constant action from the Atlantic and the occasional beach nourishment. There are no significant structures at Third Street, contributing to its ever-changing nature. When the conditions are right, though, it can get pretty fun.

The waves at Third Street are typically beach breaks that handle swell sizes from about 4 to 8 feet (1.2 to 2.4 meters). You'll find both right and left waves here, with the best sessions usually happening on a southwest wind. Tides can range from low to high, and it tends to work well at low to mid-tide as well as mid to high tide. This spot caters to surfers of all skill levels, from beginners to experts, so there's something for everyone. However, make sure you're aware of the layout since finding your spot can be tough with a right-hand wave that may push you away from the peak during southern swells.

Accessing Third Street can be a bit tricky, as parking is limited. If you’re heading there, it’s best to grab a spot at the Second Street access and take a walk down. Don't risk parking on the street, though, because you might end up with a ticket or worse. The crowd factor is fairly spread out, thanks to the limited parking, although it can get a bit busier when the sandbar is pumping. Overall, the vibe at Third Street is pretty chill, but you might encounter more surfers and a bit of competition up at 1st Street if it's firing.

Surf reports and surf forecasts nearby Third Street

Laundromats
North Carolina, United States
Beach break
Sat 8
Sun 9
Mon 10
Tue 11
Wed 12
Thu 13
Fri 14
Sat 15
Sun 16
Mon 17
Tue 18
Wed 19
Avalon Pier
North Carolina, United States
Unknown break
Sat 8
Sun 9
Mon 10
Tue 11
Wed 12
Thu 13
Fri 14
Sat 15
Sun 16
Mon 17
Tue 18
Wed 19
Avalon Pier
North Carolina, United States
Beach break, Pier break
Sat 8
Sun 9
Mon 10
Tue 11
Wed 12
Thu 13
Fri 14
Sat 15
Sun 16
Mon 17
Tue 18
Wed 19
Third Street
North Carolina, United States
Beach break
Sat 8
Sun 9
Mon 10
Tue 11
Wed 12
Thu 13
Fri 14
Sat 15
Sun 16
Mon 17
Tue 18
Wed 19
1st Street
North Carolina, United States
Beach break
Sat 8
Sun 9
Mon 10
Tue 11
Wed 12
Thu 13
Fri 14
Sat 15
Sun 16
Mon 17
Tue 18
Wed 19
Confidence

Confidence tells you how much the weather models agree on the forecast.

  • High confidence: Models agree closely; forecast is reliable.
  • Medium confidence: Some disagreement; conditions may shift slightly.
  • Low confidence: Models diverge; treat forecast with caution.

We calculate the wind confidence by comparing wind speed, gust and direction from multiple models (like GFS, ECMWF, Arome, and Harmonie) and seeing how closely they match. For wave certainty we compare height, period and direction, also on multiple models. They are weighted, meaning that some models count more than others, depending on how good they are for a certain spot.

Share
Join Surfnerd for free
  • Save favorite spots
  • Set home spot
  • Log surf sessions
Sign up with AppleSign up with Google

Readme

Welcome! If you’re new to surf forecasting, check out this quick guide.

Forecast Table

The forecast table (the section on the page with all the numbers) is designed to pack as much information in the screen as possible. Although intimidating at first, it will help you make informed decisions about the waves faster, trust me :D. The table consists of roughly four sections, time and predictions, wind, waves, and tides:

🔮 Time and predictions section

Here we show the forecast thour and the overall surf quality prediction. This is determined based on the wave, wind and tide quality prediction. These individual predictions can be found on the forecast map.

💨 Wind section

The first row on the table (with the 💨 icon) shows wind speed, direction and gust. The more the wind speed the more aggressive the color (from blue, green, orange to red).

🌊 Wave section

The waves section consists of three rows, one for wave height and direction, one for period and one for wave energy. Our algorithm choices the "dominant wave". This is normally the first swell partition, but with heavy local storms it displays the wind waves. If that's the case, we display the numbers in italic and in gray.

🌒 Tide section

The tide section consists of a row with the actual heights per hour (measured at the half hour) and a table that displays the flow of the tide and the extremes (lows and highs).

Forecast map

The forecast map consists of arrows. These arrows represent all wave partitions (swell partitions and wind wave partition) and the wind. This allows you to see things like: a secondary swell or wind waves messes up the surf, or the wind is just a tick offshore so very surfable. Click a metric label in the bottom left to bring that arrow to the front — handy when arrows overlap.

Forecast Cheat Sheet

Short on time? Focus on wave energy. It’s the best single metric to gauge how big and powerful the waves will be.

Click any table cell to jump to that forecast hour. The map will update with forecast arrows, so you can see if wind and swell direction are lining up.

Use the table sidebar to switch units for height and speed.

Log your surf sessions to compare forecasts with real sessions and sharpen future predictions.

Models and Updates

Surfnerd blends multiple global and local wind and swell models using advanced interpolation and spatial techniques to create an "ensemble" forecast. Forecasts are refreshed hourly.

Surf Predictions

Our AI-driven algorithm scores surf quality, shown by green, orange, and gray dots. Each forecast hour is rated for wind, swell, and tide quality, then combined into an overall score. Here’s the scale:

Perfect
Good
Average
Bad or No Data

Session logs also feed the algorithm — the more you log, the smarter your forecasts get.

With Surfnerd, no more "you should have been here yesterday"

Surfnerd Logo
Join Surfnerd+
Help keep Surfnerd independent and ad-free while we build the future of surf forecasting.
What you get today:
  • Surfnerd
    intelligent
    forecast
    (high accuracy!)
  • Shows
    confidence
    scores
    (more trust)
  • Compare
    models
    (more data)
  • Access all
    models
    (vs GFS only)
  • 1-hour
    forecast steps
    (vs 3-hour)
  • 12-day
    forecast range
    (vs 6-day)
"Great Forecasts. Nothing more, nothing less."
By purchasing the product, you accept the Terms of Use & acknowledge the Privacy policy.
Surfnerd for iOS: Faster loading, smoother experience.
Download on the App Store