
Surf Forecasts:
Chicahauk surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 23 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 7s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 22 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 8s period, SSE swell with 135 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 23 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 7s 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 Thursday (Jul 23) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 7s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Chicahauk in the next 16 days are 1.1m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) 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 1.9m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chicahauk over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s shaping up for Chicahauk over the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, I gotta be straight with you – the outlook for Chicahauk is a tough one. We’re looking at a long, dry spell with barely a ripple of quality surf. The first real chance to even get a little excited doesn’t come until the very end of the month, and even then, it’s nothing to write home about.
For the first week and a half, from July 20th right through to July 29th, the surf is mostly flat or tiny. The combined wave energy is weak, often in the single or low double digits, and the swell heights are mostly under 2 ft with a short period around 8 seconds. The winds are messy too – cross-offshore, onshore, or just plain strong, making it look more like a kiteboarding session than a surf. The water temperature is sitting at 82°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year.
The first glimmer of something happens on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 28th. The wind goes glassy, and we get a spike of 4 ft swell from the SSE with a period of 8 seconds. The combined energy bumps up to 192 (moderate). It’s not a classic, the period is a bit short, but with glassy conditions, it’ll be clean, rideable, and likely uncrowded. It’s an okay option for a sneaky session.
Then, on Wednesday, July 29th, we get a bit more of that same energy. The morning is clean with a 3 ft swell from the SE, period of 9 seconds, and a combined energy of 140. The wind is a light offshore from the W. It’s not pumping, but it’s the cleanest, most consistent wave we’ll see in the whole window. The crowd situation is “sometimes,” so you might have a few mates out, but nothing wall-to-wall.
After that, it fades back into tiny, weak, and messy conditions all the way through to August 4th. The swell drops to 1.0 ft or 1 ft, the energy is low, and the wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore. It’s a pretty barren run.
So, the standout here is the window from the afternoon of July 28th through July 29th. It’s not a classic, but it’s the best we’ve got. The water is warm, the wind is kind, and the waves are surfable if you’re not expecting a barrel. For everything else, you might as well leave the board in the car.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 91mm), heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 32°C on Tue afternoon, min 24°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon morning, strong winds from the SSW by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Thu morning. Warm (max 24°C on Thu morning, min 23°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NE on Thu night, calm by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 8 | SSE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 10 | E 9 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | SE 7 | SE 8 | NNE 5 | NNE 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
16 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 20 | 79 | 36 | 66 | 41 | 80 | 77 | 51 | 64 | 56 | 52 | 49 | 48 | 34 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:08PM1.08m | 1:11AM0.86m | 2:04PM1.05m | 2:07AM0.78m | 3:05PM1.04m | 3:15AM0.74m | 4:00PM1.03m | 4:14AM0.73m | 4:48PM1.04m | 5:06AM0.74m | 5:35PM1.05m | 5:58AM0.77m | 6:22PM1.08m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:41PM0.24m | 7:36AM0.12m | 8:45PM0.30m | 8:25AM0.20m | 9:44PM0.33m | 9:16AM0.25m | 10:37PM0.34m | 10:05AM0.28m | 11:28PM0.32m | 10:53AM0.29m | 00:20AM0.29m | 11:44AM0.27m | 1:04AM0.23m | ||||||||
6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | |
— | 8:16 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:13 | — | |
mm | 1 | 1 | 36 | — | 3 | 2 | 11 | 6 | 31 | 14 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 27 | 26 | 29 | 32 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 |
Feels °C | 31 | 30 | 25 | 29 | 32 | 25 | 26 | 29 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 24 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | NE 4 | ENE 4 | ESE 8 | — | E 9 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | NNE 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 |
16 | 4 | 2 | 6 | — | 2 | 15 | 20 | 79 | 32 | 28 | 41 | 80 | 77 | 51 | 64 | 56 | 52 | 49 | 48 | 34 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 4 | SSE 7 | ESE 8 | NE 4 | E 10 | — | — | — | — | S 7 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NE 5 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 5 | NNE 5 | NE 5 | NE 5 |
3 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 23 | 9 | 25 | 21 | 20 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 6 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | ESE 8 | E 12 | E 10 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 4 | — | — | — | SSW 6 | S 6 | — | — | S 7 | S 7 | S 6 | S 7 |
3 | 6 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 4 | SSW 4 | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | S 5 | SSW 5 | N 4 | NNE 5 | S 3 | SW 3 | — | ESE 2 | SW 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | 27 | 10 | 96 | 141 | 82 | 136 | 73 | 36 | 66 | 7 | 3 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 61 | 1192 | 823 | 1086 | 1086 | 757 | 502 | 76 | 0 | 87 | 179 | 181 | 179 | 183 | 179 | 100 | 61 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 77 |
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.










