Surf Forecasts:
Chicahauk surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 9s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 7s period, SSE swell with 44 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 9s 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 22) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 5s. 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 0.7m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chicahauk over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Chicahauk over the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, it’s a pretty flat and quiet start. We’ve got a long stretch of nothing special on the cards. From Thursday the 20th right through to the end of August, the surf is tiny – we’re talking ankle to shin-high waves at best, mostly around 1ft to 1ft. The combined wave energy is weak, mostly in the teens to low 40s (25), and the swell periods are short, around 8 to 9 seconds, so there’s no punch or shape. Winds are all over the place, mostly cross or onshore, and the water temp is about average for this time of year. It’s a real struggle to get excited about any of it.
The first real glimmer of hope comes right at the start of September. On Tuesday the 1st, we finally see a bump in energy. The morning session shows the swell pushing to 2ft from the ESE with a period of 10 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 159. That’s moderate energy, and with a light SSW cross-off breeze, it’ll be clean. It’s not a monster, but it’s surfable and the best we’ve seen by a long shot. The afternoon holds similar size, but the wind picks up a bit.
Then things get a bit wild. Wednesday the 2nd sees a sharp increase in swell height, hitting 5ft on the morning from the ENE, but the period drops to a horrible 6 seconds. That’s short-period wind chop, not a proper swell, and with a cross-on breeze and 12 mph winds, it’s going to be a messy, choppy wall. The energy is strong (269) but it’s just not clean. Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th stay rough with onshore winds and chunky, messy surf, with the swell dropping back down.
So, for the standout, it has to be Tuesday the 1st of September. The early session at Chicahauk offers the cleanest conditions with a modest but fun-sized ESE swell and a light offshore breeze. It’s not a day for the big boards, but for a small wave grovel, it’s the pick of the entire forecast. The rest of the time, it’s either flat, choppy, or blown out.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Thu night. Warm (max 29°C on Thu afternoon, min 24°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSE on Thu afternoon, light winds from the NNW by Fri morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 27°C on Sat night, min 24°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | ||||||||||||||
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 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 8 | E 13 | SSE 6 | E 12 | SSE 5 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
29 | 23 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 31 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross | off | cross | on | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 1:19AM0.83m | 2:09PM1.05m | 2:22AM0.78m | 3:15PM1.04m | 3:36AM0.78m | 4:11PM1.05m | 4:33AM0.80m | 5:00PM1.07m | 5:24AM0.84m | 5:47PM1.11m | 6:14AM0.90m | 6:32PM1.15m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:36AM0.36m | 9:00PM0.46m | 8:31AM0.41m | 9:57PM0.47m | 9:29AM0.43m | 10:47PM0.45m | 10:22AM0.42m | 11:36PM0.41m | 11:13AM0.39m | 00:23AM0.34m | 12:05PM0.34m | 1:02AM0.27m | |||||||
— | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | |
7:47 | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:39 | — | |
mm | — | 1 | — | 7 | — | 1 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 |
Feels °C | 29 | 31 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 24 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSE 4 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 8 | SSE 4 | SSE 6 | E 12 | SSE 5 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SE 6 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 |
29 | 23 | 14 | 9 | 15 | 16 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 31 | 18 | 11 | 10 | 22 | 22 | 22 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 3 | NE 4 | E 6 | ESE 8 | SE 4 | N 3 | N 4 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 6 | SE 5 | SSE 5 |
1 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 11 | 4 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 5 | 4 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 7 | NE 4 | E 6 | E 8 | — | E 7 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | NNE 4 | — | E 6 |
— | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 4 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSE 3 | S 4 | — | — | S 3 | S 5 | S 3 | SW 3 | — | S 3 | SW 3 | N 3 | N 4 | NNE 4 | NE 3 | E 3 | SE 3 |
— | — | 3 | 12 | — | — | 3 | 10 | 7 | 2 | — | 7 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 466 | 530 | 857 | 251 | 1269 | 100 | 327 | 0 | 0 | 540 | 77 | 417 | 0 | 100 | 240 | 179 | 240 | 857 | 417 |
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.











