Surf Forecasts:
Chicahauk surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 12s period, ESE swell with 113 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Chicahauk this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Chicahauk in the next 16 days are 0.6m 12s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chicahauk over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty, checking in on the waves at Chicahauk for the next couple of weeks. It’s a pretty bleak picture, so I’ll be straight with you.
Right now, and for the next ten days, we’re looking at a whole lot of nothing. There’s a long stretch of tiny, weak swell – we’re talking 0.7ft to 2ft – and the combo of onshore and cross-onshore breezes is just killing any chance of a decent wave. The combined energy is mostly stuck in the weak range, like 9 to 54, which tells you everything. There are a few moments with a cleaner look, like the morning of Sunday the 16th with a light cross-offshore from the south, but the swell is just too small to get excited about.
Things finally start to show a pulse around the 22nd of August. A bit of a spike shows up on Saturday the 22nd with 3ft to 4ft of messy swell out of the NNE and NE, but it’s coming with a short, weak period around 5-6 seconds and a moderate cross-onshore wind. The combined energy does jump to a moderate 107-138, but the quality is a write-off. It looks more like a day for the kite crew than a paddle surfer. The water temp is about a touch warmer than normal for the time of year, sitting at 82°.
The only period that might deliver something worth getting wet for is late in the run. Sunday the 23rd afternoon has some 2ft swell from the NE with a clean, offshore wind from the SW. You could find a few ordinary but rideable waves, and the combined energy is a low 56. Then on Tuesday the 26th of August, we get a morning with a clean 3ft from the ENE and a proper offshore wind (WSW). The combined energy climbs to a moderate 109, but the period is still a short 8 seconds. It’s the closest we get to a standout, but given it’s 16 days out, treat it as a promising whisper, not a guarantee. Chicahauk is a sandbar setup, so this small, short-period stuff needs everything to line up perfectly, and it rarely does.
Bottom line: save your wax and your gas for a while. This stretch is a blank run, plain and simple.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Warm (max 30°C on Thu afternoon, min 24°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 52mm), heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 30°C on Mon afternoon, min 23°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Sun night, calm by Mon afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 9 | ESE 4 | ESE 9 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 18 | 16 | 27 | 37 | 22 | 32 | 57 | 107 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | on | cross-off | off | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | on | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 8:04PM1.33m | 8:33AM1.17m | 8:50PM1.30m | 9:21AM1.21m | 9:36PM1.23m | 10:09AM1.22m | 10:22PM1.15m | 10:58AM1.21m | 11:07PM1.05m | 11:43AM1.19m | 11:50PM0.97m | 12:26PM1.15m | 00:32AM0.89m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 5:17PM0.17m | 5:24AM0.09m | 6:10PM0.26m | 6:07AM0.19m | 7:01PM0.35m | ||||||||
6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | |
— | 7:57 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:49 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 49 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 29 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 26 |
Feels °C | 26 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 32 | 28 | 33 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 19 | 32 | 35 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | S 3 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SSE 6 | ESE 9 | NE 4 | NE 5 | NE 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 9 | — | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 12 |
7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 18 | 16 | 27 | 37 | — | 32 | 54 | 107 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 6 | N 3 | — | E 10 | E 10 | ESE 8 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | E 4 | SSE 6 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | NE 5 | NE 6 | ESE 9 | S 5 | — | E 4 | ESE 13 | — |
1 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 9 | — | 2 | 57 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | S 5 | E 13 | E 13 | ESE 9 | E 12 | SSE 6 | SE 8 | — | — | — | NE 5 | — | — | ESE 14 | — | — |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 11 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 20 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 3 | NNW 3 | S 3 | SW 3 | SSW 2 | — | — | NE 3 | NNE 4 | NE 3 | — | SE 3 | SSE 3 | S 4 | S 5 | — | — | ESE 4 | — | ENE 3 | — |
1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 5 | 3 | 2 | — | 1 | 3 | 14 | 53 | — | — | 22 | — | 1 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2023 | 2234 | 1277 | 376 | 594 | 1879 | 1412 | 2773 | 181 | 341 | 1186 | 921 | 837 | 1074 | 240 | 100 | 240 | 203 | 100 | 42 | 93 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











