
Surf Forecasts:
Chicahauk surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 8 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s period, ESE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s period, ESE swell with 59 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 8 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s 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 08) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Chicahauk in the next 16 days are 0.7m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 08) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chicahauk over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for the Outer Banks, no point sugar-coating it. We’ve got a long stretch of weak, messy conditions before anything worth paddling out for shows up.
Right now, the first surfable waves are on Saturday morning, August 8th, at Chicahauk. It’s a sandbar break, fairly consistent. We’re looking at small 2ft swell pushing in from the ESE with a short period of 8 seconds. The combined energy is weak (50), so there’s not much punch. The water’s warm at 82°, about 2° above normal, so it’s a touch warmer than average for this time of year. The morning has a moderate WSW offshore breeze at 12 mph, keeping things clean. But honestly, the waves are tiny and very ordinary.
Through the rest of the weekend and into the first few days of the next week, it’s a real struggle. Sunday morning drops to 2ft with a WSW offshore, but the energy is almost nothing. By Sunday afternoon, the wind swings S and picks up to 19 mph, making a mess. Monday and Tuesday see even smaller surf, down to 0.7ft or 1ft, with poor conditions. Wednesday and Thursday aren’t much better. There’s a solid 5-day gap here where the surf is just not worth the drive.
We do get a brief moment on Friday morning, August 14th, with a 2ft SSW swell, but the energy is still low (30) and it’s just not enough to get excited about. The wind is offshore at 12 mph, so it’s clean, but the waves are tiny.
The real kicker is the second week. There’s a long stretch of poor surf, with onshore winds and choppy conditions from the 15th through the 18th. The swells are small and mostly from the ESE, with weak energy. The combined energy on the 17th afternoon hits 142 (moderate) but the waves are only 2ft and the wind is onshore, so it’s blown out.
Now, finally, the standout. It’s a long way off, but mark Friday morning, August 21st. Chicahauk is looking at 6ft swell from the ENE with a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy is strong (564). The wind is glassy, just a light SSE air at 3 mph. That’s the kind of clean, punchy surf that makes the whole dry spell worth it. It’s a solid size for intermediates, but with that much energy and a 6ft wave, it could get a bit much for beginners. The crowd profile here is “sometimes,” so expect a few heads out, but nothing insane.
Saturday morning, August 22nd, follows up with a 3ft ENE swell, clean offshore wind from the SW at 6 mph, and moderate energy (203). It’s a good option if you miss the Friday peak, but the Friday morning is the real winner.
After that, it drops off again into the 23rd with strong onshore winds and small, lumpy surf.
So, to sum it up: the first week is mostly a write-off with tiny, weak waves. The only real window is Friday morning, August 21st, with glassy conditions and a solid 6ft groundswell. That’s your best bet. The rest is just waiting.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 31°C on Sat afternoon, min 24°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Sat night, light winds from the WSW by Mon afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 31°C on Tue night, min 23°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu afternoon, fresh winds from the SW by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | |||||||||||||||
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 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SSE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
44 | 41 | 22 | 25 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 17 | 9 | 9 | 29 | 31 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross | off | cross-off | cross | off | off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off | off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:10PM1.23m | 4:36AM0.89m | 5:13PM1.27m | 5:43AM0.95m | 6:16PM1.31m | 6:47AM1.03m | 7:14PM1.33m | 7:43AM1.11m | 8:04PM1.33m | 8:33AM1.17m | 8:50PM1.30m | 9:21AM1.21m | 9:36PM1.23m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:32AM0.09m | 10:51PM0.19m | 10:37AM0.07m | 11:56PM0.11m | 11:44AM0.03m | 00:56AM0.02m | 12:50PM-0.02m | 1:47AM-0.06m | 1:47PM-0.06m | 2:31AM-0.10m | 2:38PM-0.06m | 3:13AM-0.10m | 3:29PM-0.01m | 3:56AM-0.06m | |||||||
6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | |
— | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:53 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 5 |
Temp °C | 27 | 31 | 28 | 27 | 30 | 27 | 27 | 31 | 30 | 26 | 30 | 31 | 27 | 31 | 26 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 32 | 28 |
Feels °C | 28 | 32 | 26 | 28 | 33 | 25 | 29 | 32 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 32 | 27 | 34 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 30 | 33 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | ESE 8 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
44 | 41 | 22 | 25 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 17 | 9 | 9 | 29 | 31 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | S 7 | E 7 | ESE 8 | NE 5 | SSE 4 |
6 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 9 | E 10 | — | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 6 | E 8 | E 12 | E 8 | S 7 | SSE 4 | E 8 | — | N 5 | NNE 5 | — | E 12 |
— | — | 2 | 7 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | — | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 3 | S 3 | SSW 4 | SW 3 | S 3 | SSW 4 | SW 3 | SSW 2 | SSW 4 | SW 3 | SSW 3 | S 4 | SW 3 | SW 2 | WSW 3 | NNW 3 | — | S 4 | WSW 3 | SW 3 | WSW 3 |
2 | 11 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 1 | — | 13 | 5 | 2 | 10 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 282 | 0 | 261 | 545 | 833 | 1277 | 261 | 443 | 2660 | 245 | 61 | 283 | 61 | 61 | 2131 | 377 | 245 | 2837 | 61 |
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.











