Surf Forecasts:
Atlantic Beach surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 6s period, SSW swell with 96 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s period with SE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Atlantic Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Atlantic Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 4s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Atlantic Beach in the next 16 days are 1.2m 6s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 2s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Atlantic Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's get straight into what's on the table for Atlantic Beach.
Right off the bat, I won't sugarcoat it – the next week and a half is looking pretty grim. We've got a long stretch of small, weak swell and dodgy winds. The water's sitting at a warm 84°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that's the only plus. From Monday morning the 17th through to the 25th, it's a real struggle. The swell is tiny, mostly around 1ft to 2ft from the SE, with periods all over the place but the combined energy is weak (35 to 142). The wind is mostly cross-onshore or onshore, leaving the surf choppy and messy. There's a brief moment on Wednesday morning the 19th where it goes glassy with 1ft SE swell, but the energy is weak (63) and the waves are barely surfable. Honestly, it's a write-off for anyone looking for a proper session.
The saving grace, and the only real standout in this whole 16-day window, is Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th. On Thursday morning, the 27th, we get a clean offshore breeze from the north at 10 km/h, with 3ft SE swell running at a nice 12-second period. The combined energy is moderate (211). Conditions are predicted to be good. That's your best bet for a clean, lined-up wave. The swell direction is right on the money for this spot.
Friday the 28th isn't too bad either. The morning has a cross-offshore breeze from the NE, with 3ft SE swell and a 12-second period, giving us moderate energy (423). The afternoon sees the swell bump up to 5ft, but it shifts to a short-period ENE windswell, so it'll be a bit more junky. Still, with clean cross-offshore winds, it's worth a paddle.
The following Saturday morning, the 29th, has a clean offshore from the NNE at 10 km/h with 5ft ENE swell, but the period is short at 7 seconds, so it'll be a bit soft and lumpy. The energy is moderate (289). It's okay, but not as good as Thursday.
After that, we're back to the doldrums. From Sunday the 30th onward, the wind turns onshore, the swell drops, and the water gets choppy again. The 31st has a glassy morning but with 1ft of weak swell (28), it's a flat calm.
So, if you're hanging for a wave, circle Thursday the 27th morning. That's the highlight. The rest is a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 30°C on Mon afternoon, min 26°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 30°C on Thu morning, min 23°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri night, fresh winds from the SW by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SW 5 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 4 | SE 8 | SE 9 | S 5 | S 5 | S 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 28 | 21 | 41 | 35 | 73 | 61 | 30 | 28 | 26 | 18 | 18 | 26 | 20 | 20 | 28 | 55 | 74 | 96 | 42 | 52 | 42 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-off | glassy | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-off | on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 12:23PM0.83m | 00:34AM0.70m | 1:13PM0.80m | 1:21AM0.62m | 2:07PM0.78m | 2:13AM0.57m | 3:05PM0.76m | 3:12AM0.54m | 4:06PM0.76m | 4:15AM0.53m | 5:05PM0.77m | 5:15AM0.54m | 5:58PM0.79m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:52PM0.10m | 6:55AM0.06m | 7:49PM0.16m | 7:39AM0.11m | 8:50PM0.21m | 8:28AM0.14m | 9:56PM0.24m | 9:23AM0.17m | 11:01PM0.24m | 10:23AM0.17m | 11:58PM0.23m | 11:21AM0.16m | 00:46AM0.20m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  |  |  | | | | |  | | | | | | |  | | | |
 | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — |
 | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | 17 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
Temp °C | 29 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
Feels °C | 31 | 31 | 31 | 35 | 33 | 29 | 33 | 33 | 35 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 11 | SSW 5 | S 5 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 6 | SSW 6 | SE 8 | SE 12 |
| kJ | 28 | 21 | 27 | 27 | 73 | 29 | 17 | 28 | 26 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 71 | 42 | 10 | 22 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | E 6 | E 6 | SE 12 | E 5 | SE 10 | SE 9 | — | SW 5 | SE 4 | — | — | SE 15 | SE 15 | SE 14 | SE 13 | ESE 13 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 12 | ESE 8 |
| kJ | 4 | 3 | 2 | 35 | 1 | 61 | 30 | — | 5 | 5 | — | — | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 23 | 6 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SE 13 | E 5 | — | — | — | — | SE 4 | E 7 | — | E 16 | E 6 | — | — | ESE 13 | E 8 | SE 13 | SE 12 | E 8 | E 8 |
| kJ | — | — | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | — | 5 | 1 | — | — | 18 | 6 | 7 | 24 | 5 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 4 | SSW 4 | SW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 4 | SW 4 | SW 5 | S 5 | SW 5 | SW 5 | S 5 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | S 5 | S 5 | S 6 | SSW 6 | — | SSW 6 | SSW 6 |
| kJ | 3 | 19 | 41 | 19 | 24 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 17 | 26 | 20 | 19 | 28 | 55 | 74 | 96 | — | 52 | 42 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 379 | 565 | 533 | 113 | 129 | 0 | 0 | 149 | 125 | 996 | 1039 | 0 | 777 | 590 | 0 | 22 | 174 | 113 | 80 | 438 | 584 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Atlantic Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Atlantic Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Atlantic Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Atlantic Beach surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Atlantic Beach) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Atlantic Beach may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Atlantic Beach is 25 km (16 miles) from Havelock. If you plan a vacation in North Carolina, look for hotels and other accommodation in Havelock. Havelock has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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