
Surf Forecasts:
Chicahauk surf forecast from 16 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 8s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 8s period, S swell with 331 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 8s period with S 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 Sunday (Jul 19) at 2PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Chicahauk in the next 16 days are 1.6m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chicahauk over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Chicahauk over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I’ll be honest with you: it’s a pretty grim stretch for a solid eight days. From Thursday the 16th right through to the 23rd, we’re looking at tiny, weak waves or messy onshore slop. The swell is barely a ripple, with that combined energy sitting in the teens or low triple digits at best – a feeble 19 (Thursday morning) up to 180 on the 19th, but that’s still a small, short-period pulse. Winds are often cross or even onshore, so don’t even bother waxing up until the 19th.
Now, there is a little window of hope. On Sunday the 19th, we get a bit more life. The morning sees a clean 4ft, but it’s still a bit weak. The real standout is Sunday afternoon, 19th July. A solid 4ft of swell from the SSE, with a clean offshore wind from the SW. That’s the kind of setup that’ll have the sandbar at Chicahauk (Outer Banks) looking alright. The combined energy hits 310, which is a solid moderate push. Water temp is sitting at 82°, which is a touch warmer than average for this time of year. Crowds are a possibility here, so expect some company if you’re out there.
Monday the 20th is a write-off again with a NE wind ruining any chance of quality. The 22nd and 23rd bring some bigger, but messy, 4ft to 6ft windswell. That’s too much for the onshore winds to handle – it’ll be a lumpy, choppy mess. The 24th has a 6ft swell from the SSE, but again, it’s cross-onshore, making it a tough paddle. That length of swell with a 7-second period and strong wind is more of a kite-surfing scene than a surfing one.
Looking further out, the first week of August is a letdown. The 28th and 29th offer a glimmer of hope with a clean 2ft on the morning of the 28th and a 2ft on the morning of the 29th, but the energy is weak (51 and 50). It’s surfable but very ordinary. The 30th has a 2ft morning with a fresh offshore, but it’s still small. The best of the second week is probably the 29th morning, but it’s nothing to write home about.
Overall, the only real standout is Sunday the 19th afternoon. The rest of the window is mostly small, weak, or wind-affected. That’s a long gap of nine days with no real quality surf. It’s a frustrating run, but this is a pretty normal stretch for this area when the conditions aren’t lining up. Keep an eye on the forecasts, things can change. That Sunday afternoon is your best bet.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Sat afternoon, min 24°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Fri morning, strong winds from the SW by Sat night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 27mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 32°C on Sun afternoon, min 24°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the N on Sun night, fresh winds from the S by Tue afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 13 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SE 9 | SE 8 | NE 5 | SE 8 | SSE 7 | NE 5 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | NNE 5 | NE 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 176 | 239 | 112 | 55 | 38 | 48 | 32 | 3 | 74 | 60 | 77 | 84 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | on | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 9:42AM1.09m | 10:00PM1.25m | 10:37AM1.10m | 10:51PM1.16m | 11:30AM1.11m | 11:39PM1.06m | 12:19PM1.10m | 00:25AM0.96m | 1:08PM1.08m | 1:11AM0.86m | 2:04PM1.05m | 2:07AM0.78m | 3:05PM1.04m | 3:15AM0.74m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:44PM-0.10m | 4:30AM-0.16m | 4:44PM-0.02m | 5:20AM-0.11m | 5:44PM0.07m | 6:06AM-0.04m | 6:42PM0.16m | 6:51AM0.04m | 7:41PM0.24m | 7:36AM0.12m | 8:45PM0.30m | 8:25AM0.20m | 9:44PM0.33m | ||||||||
5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | |
— | 8:19 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 9 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 32 | 30 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 29 | 32 | 27 | 23 | 23 | 23 |
Feels °C | 27 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 27 | 29 | 33 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 33 | 28 | 18 | 17 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 13 | E 13 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 7 | NE 5 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 |
12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 71 | 112 | 55 | 31 | 48 | 32 | 3 | 74 | 60 | 33 | 44 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | E 5 | E 6 | S 3 | E 14 | N 4 | NNE 4 | E 13 | E 9 | E 8 | — | — | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | NE 5 | — | NE 5 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | S 7 |
2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 8 | — | 1 | 11 | 15 | 15 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 16 | E 15 | E 15 | E 14 | — | E 14 | E 13 | E 9 | E 9 | — | — | — | — | E 10 | E 12 | E 12 | E 10 | — | — | — | — |
5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | — | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 2 | S 2 | SSW 4 | — | — | SSW 3 | S 3 | S 4 | SSW 5 | S 8 | SSE 8 | — | NE 4 | NE 5 | NE 5 | SSW 2 | S 4 | SSW 5 | N 3 | NNE 5 | NE 5 |
1 | 2 | 10 | — | — | 3 | 5 | 18 | 80 | 176 | 239 | — | 27 | 38 | 23 | 1 | 43 | 91 | 1 | 77 | 84 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1198 | 1075 | 1269 | 1269 | 1269 | 1085 | 1277 | 295 | 1879 | 77 | 0 | 22 | 61 | 674 | 0 | 481 | 295 | 61 | 321 | 197 | 179 |
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.










