
Surf Forecasts:
Chicahauk surf forecast from 9 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 14 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 5s period, NNE swell with 81 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Chicahauk this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Chicahauk in the next 16 days are 1.2m 5s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 14) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 09) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Fri 14th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chicahauk over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you. Looking at the next couple of weeks for Chicahauk, it's a pretty tough run. We've got a long stretch of nothing but ordinary or poor conditions, and it takes a while before anything even looks surfable. The water temp is sitting at 82° right now, which is about average for this time of year.
The problem is the swell. For the first week or so, we're looking at tiny waves, mostly under 2ft, with short periods. The wind is often messy too—cross-shore, cross-on, or just straight onshore. There's a real gap here; from now through to the end of the first week, there's just no surf worth talking about.
Around Tuesday the 18th, things finally show a little pulse. We get a glassy morning with the wind dropping to zero at Chicahauk and a combined swell energy of 70 (weak). It's surfable but very ordinary. Tuesday afternoon sees a bump of 3ft from the north, but again, it’s just ordinary. That's not a recommendation, just the first time you could get wet without it being completely pointless.
Moving into Wednesday the 19th, there's a bit more energy in the water. The swell height holds at 2ft to 2ft, but it's got some period now—13 to 12 seconds—making it a groundswell. The combined energy jumps to 175 (moderate) on Wednesday morning and 245 (moderate) on Wednesday afternoon. The problem is the wind. It's light cross-on or light cross, and the wave comment calls it "marginal." The swell direction from the ESE is not a match for the optimum E direction for Chicahauk, so the shape won't be great.
Thursday the 20th is back to poor conditions despite some reasonable swell energy (170-172), and the ESE wind is onshore again.
The best we get in this whole 16-day window looks to be Friday the 21st afternoon. We get 3ft from the north, with a clean cross-off wind from the SSE. The combined energy is 97 (weak), so it's not powerful, but that offshore wind should clean it right up. It's small and weak, but it's the cleanest looking window for a small wave session. Don't expect much push, but at least the surface will be good.
That's about it. Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd have similar small, weak swells with moderate winds. The best bet is that Friday afternoon the 21st if you are desperate for a clean, small wave roll. Everything else is either too small, too windy, or both.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 31°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Thu night. Warm (max 31°C on Wed afternoon, min 21°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Wed night, light winds from the W by Thu afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | E 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | N 4 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SSE 6 | N 4 | NNE 6 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NE 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
20 | 17 | 25 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 12 | 28 | 49 | 30 | 23 | 24 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | off | off | cross | off | glassy | cross-on | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 5:13PM1.27m | 5:43AM0.95m | 6:16PM1.31m | 6:47AM1.03m | 7:14PM1.33m | 7:43AM1.11m | 8:04PM1.33m | 8:33AM1.17m | 8:50PM1.30m | 9:21AM1.21m | 9:36PM1.23m | 10:09AM1.22m | 10:22PM1.15m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:37AM0.07m | 11:56PM0.11m | 11:44AM0.03m | 00:56AM0.02m | 12:50PM-0.02m | 1:47AM-0.06m | 1:47PM-0.06m | 2:31AM-0.10m | 2:38PM-0.06m | 3:13AM-0.10m | 3:29PM-0.01m | 3:56AM-0.06m | 4:22PM0.07m | 4:40AM0.01m | |||||||
6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | |
— | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 30 | 28 | 27 | 31 | 30 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 31 | 30 | 25 | 30 | 28 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 23 |
Feels °C | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 32 | 31 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 32 | 30 | 25 | 31 | 28 | 24 | 24 | 27 | 19 | 19 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | E 9 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | N 4 | NNE 4 | SE 8 | NE 4 | ESE 8 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | NNE 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
20 | 17 | 25 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 7 | 12 | 9 | 49 | 14 | 11 | 10 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SSE 6 | S 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | NE 4 | E 10 | E 13 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 7 | E 12 | SSE 7 | E 12 |
9 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 25 | 3 | 5 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | — | — | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 8 | — | E 8 | E 8 | — | S 6 | E 10 | E 14 | NE 4 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | — |
2 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 2 | — | SW 3 | SW 3 | SSW 2 | S 4 | W 3 | — | SW 3 | NNW 4 | — | SSE 3 | WNW 2 | SE 8 | S 3 | WSW 2 | N 4 | — | NE 5 | NE 5 | NE 6 |
1 | — | 6 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 2 | — | 3 | 5 | — | 3 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 28 | — | 30 | 23 | 24 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 61 | 439 | 251 | 833 | 1277 | 355 | 181 | 452 | 61 | 1070 | 1070 | 251 | 61 | 61 | 87 | 179 | 689 | 179 | 179 | 1186 | 183 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Latest Updates
Information about the Chicahauk Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Chicahauk provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Chicahauk can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Chicahauk 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 (Chicahauk) 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 Chicahauk 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.
Chicahauk is 52 km (32 miles) from the city of Elizabeth City. If you plan a vacation in North Carolina, look for hotels and other accommodation in Elizabeth City. Elizabeth City has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











