
Surf Forecasts:
Chicahauk surf forecast from 27 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 27 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 8s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 29 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 6s period, S swell with 360 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 27 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 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 Monday (Jul 27) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 6s. 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 2.2m 6s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Mon 27th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Mon 27th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 7ft (2.2m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chicahauk over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what’s in store for the Outer Banks over the next couple of weeks.
Let’s be straight with you – we’re looking at a pretty flat, quiet run of things for a while. The first solid chance of getting wet won't be until the tail end of the pattern, so we’ve got a long stretch of small, messy, or downright absent surf ahead.
Right now to start things off, there’s virtually nothing doing. Through the end of July and into the first week of August, the swell is tiny and the wind is mostly from the wrong direction. We’ve got a few mornings where the wind lays down, like on the morning of the 4th and the morning of the 5th, but the swell is knee-high at best (2 ft) and super short period – six to eight seconds – so there’s just no push. The wave energy is weak (84 or less), and honestly, most sessions would be a struggle for anything more than a float.
The water temp around Chicahauk is running pretty average for this time of year, nothing out of the ordinary.
There is a tiny glimmer on Monday the 3rd of August, where we see a weak but clean offshore wind. The surf picks up to just about 3 ft from the southeast, period still short at eight seconds but the offshore breeze (SW 12 mph) will keep the surface clean. The combined energy is moderate (121 to 140), so it won't be a full-on session, but if you’re itching for a paddle, that morning and early afternoon are your best bet in this whole window.
The real standout – and the only one worth circling on your calendar – is the morning of Sunday the 9th of August. We finally see a pulse of real swell: 4 ft from the southeast, with a period bumping up to 10 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 333, which is moderate but solid for this break. It’s a sandbar setup, exposed to the east, so that southeast direction lines up okay. The wind is a light cross-onshore from the north-northeast at 6 mph, which is not perfect, but it’s manageable and keeps it from being blown out. This is the best of the run, but honestly, it’s still marginal with questionable tide conditions. Don’t expect perfection, but you might find a few workable walls.
After that, the pattern fades fast. By the 10th and 11th, we’re back to small, onshore junk with strong winds and rain showers.
So to sum it up: we’ve got a long dry spell from now right through the first week of August, a tiny clean-up on the 3rd, and one slightly better, but still average, look on the morning of the 9th. Not a classic summer run for the Banks.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 71mm), heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 27°C on Tue afternoon, min 22°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 28°C on Sat afternoon, min 23°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
33 | 33 | 33 | 30 | 22 | 22 | 360 | 49 | 41 | 35 | 36 | 31 | 23 | 13 | 30 | 22 | 16 | 12 | 19 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:47AM0.81m | 7:04PM1.11m | 7:29AM0.85m | 7:42PM1.14m | 8:06AM0.90m | 8:17PM1.15m | 8:41AM0.94m | 8:52PM1.15m | 9:18AM0.97m | 9:28PM1.12m | 9:57AM1.01m | 10:06PM1.09m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:04AM0.23m | 12:35PM0.24m | 1:40AM0.17m | 1:19PM0.20m | 2:11AM0.12m | 1:57PM0.17m | 2:41AM0.08m | 2:34PM0.16m | 3:12AM0.05m | 3:13PM0.16m | 3:47AM0.05m | 3:57PM0.18m | 4:24AM0.04m | ||||||
— | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | |
8:13 | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | |
mm | — | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 59 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 23 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 22 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 29 | 27 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | NE 6 | ESE 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | NE 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 |
24 | 16 | 33 | 30 | 22 | 22 | 2 | 49 | 41 | 35 | 36 | 31 | 23 | 13 | 30 | 22 | 16 | 12 | 5 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | E 9 | N 4 | N 4 | E 8 | NNE 4 | N 4 | E 9 | SE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | SE 8 |
33 | 33 | 12 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 17 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 6 | E 9 | E 9 | NE 6 | E 8 | E 8 | NE 7 | ESE 9 | E 9 | ESE 9 | SE 6 | E 6 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 3 | S 3 | S 4 | SSW 3 | S 6 | NW 3 | — | — | N 3 | — | WSW 2 | N 4 | — | — | SE 6 | SSE 3 | SSE 4 |
— | — | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 360 | 3 | — | — | 5 | — | 1 | 9 | — | — | 10 | 7 | 19 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 645 | 0 | 481 | 61 | 1187 | 203 | 61 | 179 | 0 | 100 | 179 | 61 | 61 | 382 | 240 | 0 | 674 | 414 |
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.










