
Surf Forecasts:
Chicahauk surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 10s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period, ENE swell with 234 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 10s 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 Sunday (Sep 13) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Chicahauk in the next 16 days are 1.3m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 13) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Wed 16th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chicahauk over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty, and I've got the scoop on Chicahauk for the next couple weeks.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this stretch is looking pretty grim. The swell is tiny and the conditions are almost always chopped or blown out for the next week and a half. We're looking at a long, flat spell before things finally get some size.
Water temps here are 80°, which feels a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, a nice bonus if you’re in.
The first real chance to even get a wetsuit on is Sunday the 13th. It's not going to be anything special, just small 2 ft waves from the ESE with a 10-second period, so not much push. But, the wind goes offshore from the WSW, cleaning it right up. It's surfable, but very ordinary. You'll be scratching for waves.
Then it's back to junk. Monday the 14th through Thursday the 19th are a write-off – heaps of onshore wind, lumpy, choppy, messy. The energy levels are weak to moderate at best, with combined swell energy barely cracking 100 for most of that time. Not worth the paddle.
Now, Friday morning the 18th is a little tease. The swell is still tiny at 2 ft from the ENE, but the wind goes glassy. A total flat calm. If you’re desperate and just want to sit on a board, maybe, but there’s no wave to ride.
The *real* action doesn't start to build until late. Sunday the 20th sees the swell start to push up, hitting 5 ft by the afternoon, but it's onshore and lumpy. By Monday the 21st, we’re into bigger territory. The swell jumps to 6 ft to 7 ft from the ENE, and the combined energy is strong – over 300 and climbing to 477 by Monday afternoon. This is serious, powerful swell. But here's the catch: the wind is all over the place, mostly cross-on and onshore, making it a giant, messy, choppy mess. With that much swell and a beach setup, this looks way more interesting for kite surfers than paddle surfers.
Tuesday the 22nd is the same story. Swell holding at 6 ft to 7 ft, energy is a massive 541 to 576. But we've got strong cross-onshore winds and heavy rain. Conditions are just poor. It's raw, unpleasurable power. This is expert territory if you’re even thinking of trying to paddle out, but honestly, the wind is going to murder any kind of shape.
The rest of the week into the 26th is the same sad tune – big swell (4 ft to 6 ft) with strong, onshore winds, lots of rain. The energy stays well over 200, even hitting 500+, but it’s all whitewater and chop. Not a single window of clean surf pops up in the entire forecast.
So, the best on offer? It's depressing, but that Sunday the 13th morning with the offshore wind is your only chance for a semi-clean wave, even if it's knee high. The only other "standout" is the sheer size and energy from the 21st onwards, but it's completely unsurfable for a paddle board in these conditions. This is a long, frustrating period for Chicahauk.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 29°C on Fri afternoon, min 25°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Thu morning. Warm (max 26°C on Mon afternoon, min 21°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | NNE 4 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
28 | 20 | 32 | 35 | 37 | 61 | 58 | 55 | 32 | 39 | 133 | 80 | 122 | 173 | 217 | 228 | 190 | 144 | 104 | 77 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | glassy | off | off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:29PM1.25m | 8:56AM1.33m | 9:09PM1.19m | 9:37AM1.32m | 9:50PM1.12m | 10:20AM1.29m | 10:33PM1.05m | 11:04AM1.25m | 11:16PM0.99m | 11:46AM1.19m | 11:58PM0.93m | 12:28PM1.13m | 00:42AM0.88m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:26PM0.07m | 2:43AM0.02m | 3:11PM0.11m | 3:20AM0.07m | 3:57PM0.18m | 3:58AM0.15m | 4:45PM0.27m | 4:39AM0.25m | 5:34PM0.36m | 5:22AM0.34m | 6:21PM0.44m | 6:06AM0.43m | 7:10PM0.50m | |||||||
— | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | |
7:15 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:12 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:08 | — | — | 7:07 | — | |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | 8 | — | 5 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 26 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 25 |
Feels °C | 33 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 32 | 33 | 30 | 25 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 21 | 24 | 27 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 14 | E 14 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 |
28 | 20 | 32 | 35 | 37 | 61 | 58 | 55 | 32 | 32 | 26 | 16 | 16 | 4 | 14 | 228 | 190 | 144 | 104 | 77 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 11 | NNE 4 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | S 5 | E 15 | E 15 | E 15 | — | — | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 13 |
1 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | — | — | 4 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 8 | E 8 | — | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 9 | SE 9 |
— | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SSE 2 | S 3 | SW 3 | S 5 | — | — | NNE 4 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | 1 | 5 | 1 | 11 | — | — | 39 | 133 | 80 | 122 | 173 | 217 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1279 | 61 | 604 | 1090 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 100 | 528 | 833 | 440 | 440 | 321 | 527 | 332 | 197 | 323 | 991 | 0 |
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.










