Marine forecast
Cape Fear NC to Little River Inlet
- current wind
- 4 kt S
- Gusts
- 6 kt
- Seas
- 1.0 ft
- Period
- 7 sec
- Air
- 77°F
Observed Tue 2:08 PM | AMZ252
- Gusts now
- 6 kt
- Seas now
- 1.0 ft · 7 sec
- Air
- 77°F
- Water
- 77°F
- 72-hr peak
- 16 kt
In brief
At 2:08 pm EDT on Oct 13, 2026, NDBC station 41024 (Sunset Nearshore, NC (SUN2), 17 miles away) measured wind from the S at 4 kt, gusting to 6 kt; buoy SSBN7 measured seas of 1.0 ft. The NWS forecast for Cape Fear NC to Little River Inlet issued at 2:35 pm EDT on Oct 13, 2026 reads, for this afternoon: “NW winds 5 kt, becoming SW 5 kt late. Seas 2 ft.”
Source: National Weather Service Wilmington NC forecast; NDBC observations
Wind forecast · ktPeak 16 kt
Seas forecast · ftPeak 2 ft
NWS marine forecast
| Period | Forecast |
|---|---|
| This Afternoon | NW winds 5 kt, becoming SW 5 kt late. Seas 2 ft. Wave Detail: S 2 ft at 6 seconds and NE 1 ft at 6 seconds. |
| Tonight | SW winds 5 kt. Seas 2 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft at 7 seconds and SW 1 ft at 4 seconds. |
| Wed | W winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. Wave Detail: SE 2 ft at 7 seconds and W 1 ft at 3 seconds. |
| Wed Night | SW winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft at 7 seconds and SW 1 ft at 3 seconds. |
| Thu | SW winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. Wave Detail: SW 1 ft at 3 seconds and E 1 ft at 7 seconds. |
| Thu Night | SW winds 5 to 10 kt, increasing to 10 to 15 kt after midnight. Seas 2 ft. Wave Detail: SW 2 ft at 3 seconds and E 1 ft at 7 seconds. |
| Fri | SW winds 10 to 15 kt, increasing to 15 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 3 ft. |
| Fri Night | SW winds 20 to 25 kt, becoming NW 25 to 30 kt after midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. |
| Sat | N winds 25 to 30 kt, becoming NE 20 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 ft. |
| Sat Night | NE winds 20 to 25 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. |
Issued Tue 2:35 PM by Wilmington NC (product CWFILM).
Recent buoy conditions
| Time | Wind | Gust | Seas | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 2:08 PM | 4 kt S | 6 kt | — | 77°F |
| Tue 1:08 PM | 2 kt S | 4 kt | — | 76°F |
| Tue 12:08 PM | 2 kt SSW | 2 kt | — | 76°F |
| Tue 11:08 AM | 0 kt | 2 kt | — | 76°F |
| Tue 10:08 AM | 2 kt NE | 2 kt | — | 76°F |
| Tue 9:08 AM | 2 kt NNE | 2 kt | — | 76°F |
| Tue 8:08 AM | 2 kt N | 2 kt | — | 76°F |
| Tue 7:08 AM | 2 kt N | 4 kt | — | 76°F |
| Tue 6:08 AM | 4 kt N | 4 kt | — | 76°F |
| Tue 5:08 AM | 2 kt N | 4 kt | — | 76°F |
| Tue 4:08 AM | 4 kt N | 4 kt | — | 76°F |
| Tue 3:08 AM | 4 kt N | 4 kt | — | 76°F |
Observed Tue 2:08 PM at NDBC buoy 41024 (Sunset Nearshore, NC (SUN2)), 16.8 miles away. Seas from buoy SSBN7 (Sunset Beach Nearshore Waves (SUN2WAVE)), 17.2 miles away, at Tue 2:55 PM.
Frequently asked questions
What is the marine forecast for Cape Fear NC to Little River Inlet today?
This Afternoon: NW winds 5 kt, becoming SW 5 kt late. Seas 2 ft. Wave Detail: S 2 ft at 6 seconds and NE 1 ft at 6 seconds.
Is there a small craft advisory for Cape Fear NC to Little River Inlet?
No advisories, warnings or watches are in effect for NWS zone AMZ252 as of the last update on this page. Advisories can be issued at any time; check the current bulletin before leaving the dock.
How high are the waves at Cape Fear NC to Little River Inlet right now?
Seas are running 1.0 ft at a 7-second period, measured at NDBC buoy 41024 Tue 2:08 PM, 16.8 miles from this zone. The forecast peaks at 2.0 ft Thu 2 AM.
What is the water temperature at Cape Fear NC to Little River Inlet?
The nearest buoy read 77°F (25°C) at Tue 2:08 PM. Sea surface temperature at a single buoy can differ by several degrees from the water at a beach or in a shallow bay nearby.
What do the wind speeds in knots mean?
One knot is 1.15 mph. The National Weather Service issues a small craft advisory for sustained winds of roughly 22–33 knots or hazardous seas, a gale warning at 34–47 knots, and a storm warning at 48 knots and above. Exact advisory thresholds vary by forecast office and by water body — a bay reaches dangerous chop at a lower wind speed than open ocean.
Where does this forecast come from?
The forecast text is the National Weather Service's own marine bulletin for zone AMZ252, issued by Wilmington NC, reproduced in full. The wind and seas charts are drawn from the NWS gridded forecast for a point inside the zone. Observations come from the nearest reporting NDBC buoy. We are not affiliated with NOAA or the National Weather Service.
Forecast: NOAA/NWS product CWFILM, issued Tue 2:35 PM. Observations: NOAA National Data Buoy Center station 41024, read Tue 2:08 PM. Retrieved Oct 13, 3:42 PM. Conditions offshore change faster than any page can be rebuilt, so check the current NWS bulletin and your own instruments before going out.