Chicahauk Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let me tell you how things are shaping up here.

Look, I'm gonna be straight with you – for the next 16 days, this stretch is mostly a flat, wind-affected mess. We're talking about Chicahauk, a sandbar setup on the Outer Banks that needs a lot to line up right. The water temp is sitting at about 79°, which is a touch below average for late July – nothing too wild, but it's got a slight chill to it.

The first week is a total write-off. From Sunday the 26th through to the end of July, we've got weak energy (combined swell energy barely cracking 100), tiny waves mostly under 2ft, and the wind is just wrong. It's cross-on, onshore, or straight cross for days on end. The swell period is short at 7-8 seconds, which means weak, crumbly little waves. You'll be surfing knee-high chop if you even try. There's a few clean moments on Tuesday the 28th with a cross-off breeze, but the swell is so tiny (1ft) it’s not even worth paddling out for. Thursday the 30th afternoon sees a little spike to 2ft and a combined energy of 110, but it's cross-onshore and choppy. Not pretty.

We do finally get a little bump around the 31st of July – Friday morning sees 3ft waves from the NE with a 9-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 187 (moderate). But the wind is a cross-on NNW breeze at 12 mph, so it's choppy and messy. If you're desperate, paddle out for a mushy one, but don't expect much.

Saturday the 1st of August is more of the same – tiny 2ft waves with light cross-onshore winds. Not worth the sand in your car.

Now, here's the one tiny glimmer. Tuesday the 4th of August morning. We get a 2ft swell from the SE, but the wind finally swings offshore from the SW at 12 mph, making it clean. The swell period is short (7 seconds) and the wave comment even says "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions" – so we're scraping the barrel here. It's the best on offer, but only for a session where you just need to get wet.

After that, it's back to flatness. Wednesday the 5th through Friday the 7th of August gives us next to nothing – wave heights drop to 0.7ft to 1ft and the combined swell energy is below 20. There's a glassy moment Friday morning the 7th, but with only 1ft on offer, it's a lake. Then Saturday the 8th of August afternoon sees another pulse: 3ft from the SE with a glassy wind, and the combined energy hits 111 (moderate). That could be a fun little session if the sandbar lines up, but it's a gamble.

Honestly, this is a tough stretch. If you're a kite surfer, the stronger cross-onshore days might get you moving, but for a paddle surfer, I'd be looking at the morning of Tuesday the 4th or the afternoon of Saturday the 8th as your only real chances. The consistency is poor, and a blank run like this is more normal for the area when the wind is stuck onshore.

Keep your eyes peeled, but don't hold your breath.

Rusty.

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