Croatan Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.79° N 75.96° W

Issued: 1 pm 05 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Croatan sea temperature is
25.5° C

Slightly warmer than usual

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


Croatan surf forecast from 5 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 7 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 5s period, S swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 12 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 6s period, ENE swell with 98 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 7 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 5s period with S 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 Tuesday (Jul 07) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Croatan in the next 16 days are 1.1m 6s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 12) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Friday (Jul 10) at 5PM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Tue 7th Jul)3.5ft (1.1m) 5s
Best Surf 2AM (Tue 7th Jul)3.5ft (1.1m) 5s
Most Powerful 8AM (Sun 12th Jul)3.5ft (1.1m) 6s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – the next couple weeks at Croatan are looking pretty flat and uninspiring. This is a beach/jetty setup that’s fairly consistent and exposed, but right now the swell just isn’t showing up with any energy. The water’s sitting at a pleasant 78°, pretty average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Let’s run through it. From Sunday afternoon July 5th right through to the end of the 16-day window, there’s nothing that gets me excited. We’ve got a few moments early on with tiny knee‑high slop and mostly onshore or cross‑onshore winds. Monday July 6th morning might look clean with a light offshore, but that swell is a pathetic 1 foot from the ESE with a 9‑second period and combined energy of only 39 – barely enough to stand on.

The only half‑decent windows come mid‑month. On Monday July 13th morning, a moderate offshore from the west and a clean surface, but the swell is still only 2 feet from the ENE, energy at 62. Then Tuesday July 14th morning brings the biggest swell of the whole forecast: 4 feet from the NNE with a 5‑second period and combined energy of 141. That’s moderate energy, but the period is short and it’s a beach break – expect lumpy, close‑outy walls. Offshore wind (WNW 12 mph) will keep it clean though. Still, that’s only a 1 out of 10 kind of day – surfable but very ordinary. That swell is too small for power and too short for shape.

Later on, Sunday July 19th afternoon has a glassy moment with 3 feet from the NNE, but again short period and energy only 53. Monday July 20th morning gives us clean offshore and 3 feet from the SE, energy 64. Same story.

Honestly, there’s no standout session. The best you can hope for is a small clean wave on the 14th or 20th, but don’t expect any quality. Crowds are often at Croatan, and with nothing decent running, it might actually be quiet – but that doesn’t make the surf any better. For beginners, the size is safe, but the conditions are too poor to learn on. If you’re a kiter, those onshores on a few afternoons might offer something, but for a paddle surfer, stay home.

Keep an eye on the forecasts – things can change, but right now it’s a long dry spell.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 29mm), heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 32°C on Sun afternoon, min 23°C on Tue morning). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 33°C on Fri afternoon, min 22°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Sun
5
Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
SSE
4
0.7
S
4
0.3
ESE
9
0.9
SSE
4
1.1
S
5
0.3
ESE
10
0.4
SE
10
0.6
NE
5
1
NE
5
0.8
ENE
6
0.7
ENE
7
0.6
ENE
7
0.4
ENE
7
0.4
ENE
7
0.4
NE
7
0.5
SE
8
0.6
SSE
8
0.5
SE
8
0.8
NE
5
1.2
ENE
6
1
E
6
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
23
17
16
28
67
18
33
16
53
46
40
31
19
19
13
28
39
31
25
81
81
Wind (km/h)
25
SSE
10
SSW
10
SW
15
ESE
15
WNW
0
SW
15
ENE
15
ENE
15
ENE
15
ENE
10
SE
10
SSE
15
SE
10
WSW
15
WSW
10
ESE
10
NNE
15
NNE
15
ENE
15
E
10
SE
Wind State
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
off
glassy
on
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
off
on
cross
cross
on
on
cross-on
High Tide
00:22AM0.96m
12:59PM1.00m
1:08AM0.92m
1:48PM1.05m
2:00AM0.89m
2:43PM1.10m
3:00AM0.86m
3:43PM1.15m
4:05AM0.86m
4:45PM1.21m
5:10AM0.88m
5:46PM1.27m
6:12AM0.92m
Low Tide
6:22PM0.18m
6:43AM0.03m
7:17PM0.18m
7:29AM0.02m
8:15PM0.16m
8:19AM0.01m
9:14PM0.13m
9:12AM-0.01m
10:16PM0.09m
10:09AM-0.02m
11:19PM0.05m
11:09AM-0.05m
00:21AM-0.00m
12:10PM-0.09m
clear
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
light rain
part cloud
clear
clear
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
clear
part cloud
rain showers
cloud
thunderstorm
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:50
5:50
5:50
5:52
5:52
5:52
5:54
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:25
8:25
8:24
8:24
8:24
8:23
8:23
8:23
 mm
1
6
8
11
3
2
6
1
2
Temp °C
32
29
26
31
29
27
25
24
23
24
23
25
28
28
29
33
29
26
25
24
26
Feels °C
31
30
29
34
32
31
27
28
24
25
24
27
30
30
31
35
30
28
26
25
28
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
ESE
8
0.3
ESE
8
0.3
ESE
9
0.3
ESE
9
0.2
ESE
10
0.4
SE
4
0.4
SE
10
0.6
NE
5
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.7
ENE
7
0.6
ENE
7
0.4
ENE
7
0.4
ENE
7
0.4
SSE
4
0.5
SE
8
0.6
SSE
8
0.5
SE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.1
SE
6
0.3
SE
9
Energy kJ
13
13
15
16
9
5
33
15
23
21
40
31
19
19
8
28
39
31
23
1
13
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
ESE
9
0.3
ESE
10
0.3
ESE
9
0.3
ESE
9
0.1
E
10
0.1
E
10
0.4
SE
9
0.4
SE
9
0.1
E
11
0.2
ESE
8
0.4
NE
7
0.2
ENE
7
0.2
NNW
3
0.1
NE
7
0.1
E
9
0.2
ESE
9
Energy kJ
16
18
17
16
2
2
20
20
2
7
13
5
1
2
2
8
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
SE
7
0.3
ESE
4
0.1
E
12
0.1
E
12
0.1
S
7
0.1
E
11
0.1
E
11
0.2
SSE
7
0.2
ESE
10
0.1
E
9
0.2
ENE
7
0.1
E
9
0.1
E
9
Energy kJ
2
2
3
3
1
2
2
5
9
2
5
2
2
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
SSE
4
0.7
S
4
0.4
SSE
5
0.9
SSE
4
1.1
S
5
0.6
NE
3
1
NE
5
0.8
ENE
6
0.6
SE
3
0.6
SSE
4
0.2
WSW
2
0.5
SW
3
0.5
NNE
4
0.8
NE
5
1.2
ENE
6
1
E
6
Energy kJ
23
17
8
28
67
6
53
46
8
14
1
4
7
25
81
81
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Distance (km)
1242
314
175
292
0
126
467
78
242
745
201
172
808
0
78
78
137
176
409
252
242
Best forecast wave conditions in Virginia
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
Best forecast wave conditions in United States
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
3
2
2
3
2
2
3
2
2
4
2
2
4
2
4
3
2
2
2
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
6
4
8
7
5
5
9
8
9
9
5
5
6
5
8
5
5
8
6
5
5
  • 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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