Surf Forecasts:
Chicahauk surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 9s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 11s period, ESE swell with 65 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 9s period with ESE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Chicahauk this week:
The surf forecast for Chicahauk over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 14s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Chicahauk in the next 16 days are 0.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chicahauk over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, Rusty here. Looks like we're in for a quiet stretch at Chicahauk. There's nothing doing for the first few days, and honestly, it's a bit of a flat spell to be honest. The water temp is sitting at a noticeable 83°, which is a touch warmer than normal for the time of year, so the ocean feels like a bath out there.
For Tuesday the 18th through to Friday the 22nd, the swell is tiny, mostly around 1.0 ft to 2 ft from the ESE with very weak combined energy, nothing cracking 73. Winds are all over the shop, mostly onshore or cross, and the conditions are just plain poor. You'd be better off finding a different hobby. On Saturday the 23rd, there's a small window: a few 1 ft waves from the ESE with clean conditions and light offshore winds out of the WSW in the afternoon, but it's still really small and ordinary. The same story lingers through to the end of the month – very small waves, inconsistent energy, and only the odd moment of clean conditions, like on Monday the 25th when you get glassy conditions with 1.0 ft from the ESE, but still, it's barely surfable.
The best on offer in this whole outlook is on the morning of Sunday the 30th of August. The swell picks up to 3 ft from the ESE with a combined energy of 175, which is moderate, and it's glassy with a slight air from the NNE. You're looking at small, clean waves, but the period is only 9 seconds, so it's not a groundswell. It's the standout simply because conditions will be the most user-friendly and cleanest of the whole run. For beginners, that 3 ft is totally manageable, but it's still very small.
After that, it fades back into tiny, poor quality junk through to the start of September. The morning of Wednesday the 2nd of September sees a bit more energy (combined energy of 96), but with a 19 mph onshore breeze from the E and only 3 ft from the ESE, it's blown out and messy. The best of the entire outlook is that Sunday 30th morning – but don't get too excited, it's not a classic.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 30mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 32°C on Thu afternoon, min 23°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 60mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 29°C on Sat afternoon, min 21°C on Sun afternoon). Winds increasing (calm on Sat morning, fresh winds from the WSW by Sun afternoon). | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | NNE 6 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | E 13 | SE 7 | S 7 | E 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
66 | 56 | 33 | 31 | 25 | 23 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 34 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 13 | 11 | 24 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 23 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | glassy | glassy |
High Tide | 00:32AM0.89m | 1:13PM1.09m | 1:19AM0.83m | 2:09PM1.05m | 2:22AM0.78m | 3:15PM1.04m | 3:36AM0.78m | 4:11PM1.05m | 4:33AM0.80m | 5:00PM1.07m | 5:24AM0.84m | 5:47PM1.11m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:01PM0.35m | 6:49AM0.28m | 7:58PM0.42m | 7:36AM0.36m | 9:00PM0.46m | 8:31AM0.41m | 9:57PM0.47m | 9:29AM0.43m | 10:47PM0.45m | 10:22AM0.42m | 11:36PM0.41m | 11:13AM0.39m | 00:23AM0.34m | |||||||
— | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | |
7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:42 | — | |
mm | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 25 | — | — | 15 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 18 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 32 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 23 | 26 | 23 | 27 | 27 |
Feels °C | 31 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 33 | 32 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 29 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | NNE 6 | NNE 5 | NE 5 | ESE 8 | NE 5 | SE 7 | NE 5 | SE 7 | SE 6 | NNE 4 | ESE 11 |
66 | 56 | 33 | 31 | 25 | 23 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 34 | 26 | 20 | 24 | 10 | 11 | 4 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 23 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 5 | S 4 | S 5 | S 4 | ENE 3 | NE 4 | E 6 | E 6 | SE 4 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 13 | E 8 | NE 5 | E 12 | S 4 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | SE 5 |
2 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 26 | 25 | 14 | 11 | 5 | 11 | 3 | 27 | 25 | 4 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 5 | — | — | — | — | SE 4 | — | E 16 | E 8 | SE 4 | E 14 | E 13 | — | E 13 | E 8 | E 8 | E 12 | E 7 | SE 7 | NNE 4 |
5 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 5 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 14 | — | 13 | 11 | 5 | 25 | 4 | 11 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNE 2 | NE 3 | NE 3 | SE 2 | SSE 3 | S 3 | SSE 4 | — | — | S 4 | — | NNE 5 | SSE 3 | WSW 3 | S 7 | WSW 3 | N 4 | — | — |
— | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 12 | — | — | 3 | — | 17 | 4 | 3 | 24 | 1 | 12 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 645 | 61 | 100 | 857 | 481 | 524 | 817 | 78 | 907 | 2660 | 251 | 0 | 0 | 61 | 659 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











