Croatan Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.79° N 75.96° W

Croatan Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 pm 26 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Croatan sea temperature is
26.6°C
1.3° 

Croatan surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Croatan surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 8s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 11s period, ESE swell with 69 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 8s 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 4s. 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 0.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore 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 TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Thu 27th Aug)1.5ft (0.5m) 8s
Best Surf 8AM (Thu 27th Aug)1.5ft (0.5m) 8s
Most Powerful11AM (Wed 2nd Sep)1.5ft (0.5m) 11s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Croatan over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for Croatan. We’re looking at a pretty quiet 16-day stretch, but there are a couple of windows where it might be worth a paddle.

The overall pattern is dominated by small, weak swell for the first week. The water is sitting at 80°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you can leave the full suit at home.

We start with pretty much nothing. From Wednesday the 26th through to the end of August, the swell is tiny, mostly 1ft to 2ft. The winds are a mess – cross-on, onshore, or just plain choppy. It’s a flat spell. There’s a brief moment early Friday morning the 28th where a light offshore (W) pops up, with 2ft from the E, but it’s short-lived and the energy is weak (56). Not worth rushing for.

We hit a real gap from the 29th of August right through to the end of the month. Saturday and Sunday mornings are glassy, but with only 1ft of ESE swell, it’s just not enough to get you out of bed. The combined energy is in the 20s and 30s – that’s very weak.

Then we get a bit of a run starting Tuesday the 1st of September. The morning is clean with a WNW offshore, but the swell is only 1ft. Not great. Wednesday the 2nd sees a bit more hope: 2ft from the ESE with a period of 11 seconds early. That’s a longer period, so it’ll have a bit more push (energy at 83), and the morning looks clean. Still, it’s very small.

The next real standout comes on Monday the 7th of September. The morning shows 2ft from the ENE (10 second period) with a clean cross-off from the NNW (15 mph). The energy is up to 135. The afternoon is even better – 2ft of ENE swell with an 11-second period and a clean cross-off from the NW. This is the best swell direction for Croatan, and the energy is moderate (148). Winds are moderate but clean, so it’ll be rideable. It’s not big, but it’s the best we’ll see.

Tuesday the 8th holds some clean offshore wind (WNW) in the morning with 2ft of ENE swell, energy at 124. It’s surfable.

Don’t get too excited about the 9th of September. The morning has 4ft from the SE, but it’s a short period windswell (5 seconds) with a cross-off. That’s a messy combination. The afternoon jumps to 5ft but it’s cross-shore and short period, so it’ll be a bit of a washing machine.

The best on offer is Monday the 7th of September. The break is Croatan, a beach and jetty setup. Swell is 2ft from the ENE, with a solid 11-second period. The wind is a clean cross-off from the NW (12 mph). It’s not a big day, but for this stretch, it’s the cleanest, most consistent-looking surf. The energy is moderate (148), and the direction matches the optimum. The crowd factor is “often” here, so there will be a few locals out, but it’s nothing to worry about.

After that, the 10th sees the swell drop right back off. It’s a long wait for a small window.

Rusty signing off.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Fri night. Warm (max 29°C on Fri afternoon, min 23°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 34°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
ESE
9
0.5
E
8
0.5
E
9
1
SSE
5
0.5
E
8
0.5
E
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.4
ESE
7
0.4
ESE
7
0.4
ESE
7
0.4
SE
7
0.4
SE
7
0.3
ESE
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
26
36
40
53
36
35
22
21
24
21
26
26
15
21
20
18
12
16
29
Wind (km/h)
15
S
10
SSW
25
SSE
10
SW
10
WSW
10
ESE
15
W
0
NNE
15
NE
5
E
5
SE
15
SE
15
SSW
15
WSW
10
ESE
5
W
0
S
5
SSW
10
WNW
Wind State
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
off
glassy
cross-on
on
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
off
on
glassy
glassy
glassy
cross-off
High Tide
7:51AM1.03m
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
Low Tide
1:46AM0.11m
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
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
rain showers
clear
thunderstorm
mod rain
thunderstorm
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:30
6:31
6:31
6:31
6:33
6:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:40
7:38
7:37
7:37
7:35
7:34
7:31
 mm
1
1
3
1
9
1
Temp °C
26
27
28
26
26
29
25
27
27
25
26
28
26
30
34
30
29
33
31
Feels °C
26
29
27
26
29
32
25
31
28
27
29
30
27
32
36
32
32
35
33
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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