Surf Forecasts:
Croatan surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 11s period, ESE swell with 79 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s period with E swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Croatan this week:
The surf forecast for Croatan over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 4s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Croatan in the next 16 days are 0.6m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 03) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Croatan over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, I’m looking at what’s on offer for the next couple of weeks, and I gotta be straight with you – it’s pretty flat and frustrating out there for a while. We’ve got a long stretch of nothing special, so don't get your hopes up too high.
The first bit of anything rideable comes on Thursday, August 27th, but it’s not much to write home about. Croatan’s gonna see some tiny 2ft easterly swell with a period of just 8 seconds, so it’s weak and disorganised. The combined energy is a paltry 41, which is basically a ripple. The morning session is your only real chance, with glassy conditions and a slight south-southeast breeze. The water temperature is 79°, which is about average for this time of year, nothing wild. Still, it’s small, it’s weak, and it’s only good for a beginner to mess around on a foamboard.
That’s the only window where you could even call it "surfable" in the first week. After that, Thursday afternoon and all of Friday, August 28th, through to Tuesday, September 1st, is just a write-off. The swell stays below 2ft, the period is short, and the wind is mostly rubbish – cross-onshore or onshore. It’s poor conditions across the board.
We then get another tiny pulse on Wednesday morning, September 2nd. Swell bumps up to 2ft from the ESE with a longer period of 11 seconds, and the combined energy hits 79. That’s still weak, but the glassy north-northwest wind will make it look clean. It is a groundswell at 11 seconds, so the shape might be a bit more lined up, but at Croatan’s beach setup, don’t expect any barrels. This one is still only for the eager beginner.
The second week is grim. From Thursday, September 3rd, all the way through Friday, September 11th, we’re looking at a string of days with swell barely reaching 2ft. There’s one spike on Sunday, September 6th, where the swell jumps to 5ft from the northeast with a short, choppy 6-second period and combined energy of 187. But the wind is onshore and fresh at 19 mph, making it an ugly, messy, blown-out mess. That’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle-surfing one.
Honestly, if you’re desperate for a paddle, the window is Wednesday morning, September 2nd, for the cleanest, tiniest waves. Otherwise, I’d be leaving the board in the shed for the next two weeks. The forecasts can change, but right now, this is a lean run.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Fri afternoon. Warm (max 28°C on Thu afternoon, min 23°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 33°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 36 | 40 | 39 | 36 | 23 | 22 | 31 | 24 | 12 | 26 | 17 | 16 | 21 | 20 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 20 | 79 | 57 | 49 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:09PM1.17m | 8:31AM1.09m | 8:47PM1.17m | 9:10AM1.15m | 9:26PM1.15m | 9:50AM1.19m | 10:06PM1.12m | 10:32AM1.22m | 10:49PM1.07m | 11:16AM1.23m | 11:34PM1.02m | 12:04PM1.23m | 00:23AM0.97m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:54PM0.12m | 2:21AM0.06m | 2:35PM0.09m | 2:57AM0.03m | 3:17PM0.08m | 3:34AM0.02m | 4:01PM0.09m | 4:12AM0.02m | 4:47PM0.11m | 4:54AM0.04m | 5:38PM0.14m | 5:40AM0.06m | 6:35PM0.17m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  | | | |  |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — |
 | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:34 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — |
mm | — | — | 3 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 30 | 33 | 31 | 30 | 33 | 31 | 31 | 34 | 31 |
Feels °C | 30 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 32 | 34 | 32 | 32 | 35 | 33 | 34 | 36 | 33 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 |
| kJ | 36 | 40 | 39 | 36 | 23 | 22 | 31 | 24 | 12 | 26 | 17 | 16 | 21 | 20 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 20 | 79 | 57 | 49 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 4 | E 12 | E 12 | SSE 5 | E 11 | SE 5 | E 10 | E 10 | SE 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 4 | NE 4 | NE 4 | NE 4 | E 8 | S 4 | ESE 8 | ESE 12 | — | — | NE 5 |
| kJ | 2 | 3 | 11 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 14 | — | — | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 13 | E 8 | E 8 | E 11 | E 8 | E 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | NE 5 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | — | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 3 | S 4 | — | SSE 5 | SW 3 | WSW 2 | — | — | — | — | S 2 | SSW 2 | S 2 | S 4 | — | — | SSW 3 | — | SSE 3 | S 4 |
| kJ | — | 4 | 11 | — | 8 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 24 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 1132 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 78 | 0 | 1231 | 138 | 242 | 2009 | 138 | 1367 | 1137 | 1137 | 1137 | 1145 | 78 | 0 | 485 | 0 |
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Information about the Croatan Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Croatan provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Croatan can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Croatan 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 (Croatan) 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 Croatan 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.
Croatan is 7 km (4 miles) from the city of Virginia Beach. If you plan a vacation in Virginia, look for hotels and other accommodation in Virginia Beach. Virginia Beach has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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