Surf Forecasts:
Chicahauk surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 11s period, ESE swell with 82 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s period with SE 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Chicahauk in the next 16 days are 0.6m 11s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chicahauk over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s coming up at Chicahauk.
It’s a tough run to start. We’re looking at weak, tiny, and often messy conditions for a solid stretch. The first glimmer of something rideable doesn’t pop up until Tuesday the 18th, but it’s nothing to write home about. After that, we hit a long, quiet period right through until Saturday the 23rd, with a few sniffles of surfable waves but very ordinary conditions – nothing you’d paddle out for if you have any standards.
Tuesday the 18th morning is the first real nod. Chicahauk is a sandbar break, exposed to the east. That morning you’ve got a weak 2ft swell from the SE, with a 9-second period. The combo energy is a paltry 69, so it’s weak, but the wind is light and cross-off from the NW. The water temp is about average for this time of year. It’s clean, rideable, but you’re really just scratching for something. The afternoon goes to crap with a cross-on wind, so forget it.
Then it’s a dead zone for days. Plenty of 1ft and 1.0ft days with dodgy wind or glassy but simply no energy. Don't even think about it.
Finally, Sunday the 23rd morning shows a flicker. A 1.0ft swell from the E with a long 12-second period, giving it a bit more shape, and a moderate offshore breeze from the SW. The energy is still only moderate (51), but the offshore wind will make it look better than the size suggests. It’s surfable but very ordinary.
Another lull hits until Wednesday the 26th morning when things perk up noticeably. We get a 2ft swell from the east, but here’s the kicker: a 15-second period – that’s a proper groundswell. The energy jumps to 189 (moderate, pushing strong). The wind is moderate offshore from the SW. This will create the cleanest, most lined-up waves of the entire outlook. At Chicahauk, being a sandbar, that long period might make for some straight walls, so don't expect perfect peaks, but for the area, this is the standout window.
Moving into the second week, there are a few moments. The morning of the 30th has a 3ft, 5-second windswell – short period, weak energy (67), but glassy conditions with a light S wind. It’s rideable if you’re desperate. By the morning of the 31st, it’s glassy with 2ft SE swell and a 7-second period. Clean but small. The best long-range promise is the morning of September the 2nd, with a 2ft, 7-second ESE swell, 80 energy, and glassy conditions. Not big, but clean.
Honestly, the standout is the morning of Wednesday the 26th. That 15-second groundswell with clean offshore wind is the one time you’ll find something with real push and shape. It’s still small, but that’s the best of a lean run.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Mon night, min 26°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 54mm), heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 30°C on Thu night, min 24°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SSE 4 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
20 | 41 | 66 | 56 | 33 | 31 | 25 | 23 | 14 | 14 | 23 | 16 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 15 | 27 | 13 | 25 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | on | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 11:50PM0.97m | 12:26PM1.15m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:07AM0.19m | 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 | |||||||
— | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | |
7:51 | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:43 | — | |
mm | — | — | 5 | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | 10 | 23 | 3 | 4 | 11 | — | 2 | 16 |
Temp °C | 30 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 30 | 30 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 25 |
Feels °C | 32 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 34 | 29 | 26 | 31 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | NE 5 | SSE 4 | SSE 7 | ESE 8 | SE 7 |
20 | 41 | 66 | 56 | 33 | 31 | 25 | 23 | 14 | 14 | 23 | 16 | 26 | 25 | 11 | 15 | 19 | 13 | 13 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | ESE 12 | S 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | S 4 | SSE 4 | E 3 | — | E 6 | SE 5 | SSE 5 | NE 3 | SSE 4 | ESE 9 | NE 5 | NE 6 | NE 6 | E 12 |
2 | 14 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 25 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 25 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | ESE 12 | SE 8 | — | SE 5 | — | — | SE 4 | E 7 | E 16 | NNE 3 | E 7 | SSE 5 | E 13 | E 13 | E 8 | E 12 | E 12 | NNE 6 |
2 | 14 | 14 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 27 | 11 | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WSW 2 | — | NE 2 | ENE 3 | ENE 3 | E 4 | — | SE 2 | S 4 | — | NE 3 | — | NNE 4 | S 3 | WSW 3 | SW 3 | S 4 | S 4 |
— | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | — | 2 | 10 | — | 3 | — | 9 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 26 | 37 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 543 | 0 | 68 | 87 | 240 | 68 | 61 | 624 | 2227 | 857 | 417 | 836 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 245 | 0 | 261 | 245 |
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)
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.











