Surf Forecasts:
Croatan surf forecast from 31 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 7s period, SSE swell with 108 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Croatan this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Croatan in the next 16 days are 1.0m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Croatan over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, let’s talk about what’s on the table for the next couple of weeks at Croatan.
Honestly, it’s looking like a very quiet stretch. We’re in for a long dry spell with barely a ripple for most of the next 16 days. The first recommendation doesn’t show up until Friday the 31st, and from there, it’s just a series of small, weak swells with poor to mediocre conditions.
Kicking off on Friday morning the 31st, we’ve got a tiny 1 ft SE swell with a short 8-second period. Combined wave energy is only 18 (weak). Winds are light NW cross-offshore, which keeps the surface clean, but the size is barely enough to get excited about. It’s a beach/jetty setup and the water temp is about average for this time of year.
Through the weekend and into the first week of August, the swell stays puny. We see this bit of a bump on Sunday the 2nd when the combined energy hits 56, but that’s still weak. The swell direction is SE, which is okay but the winds are cross-onshore, ruining the shape. By Monday the 3rd, the wind shifts to cross-offshore with a 3 ft SSE swell and energy up to 96, but the period is a short 7 seconds. Looks cleaner in the morning, but the ride is barely worth paddling for.
Honestly, through the entire first week, we’re stuck with heights from 1 ft to 3 ft, short periods, and constant onshore or cross-shore winds. The only real standout is a short window very early Monday morning the 3rd with a cross-offshore breeze, but the swell is barely knee-high.
The second week is even quieter. From the 8th through the 15th of August, we’re looking at 0.6 ft to 2 ft swells. The best you’ll get is glassy conditions on Sunday the 9th with a 1 ft ESE swell and an early morning glass-off. But it’s tiny. Combined energy drops to single digits and low teens. The weather late in the run has some thunderstorm risks, and wind directions shift around but never deliver a solid, clean wave.
There’s no standout worthy of a session. This is a blank run for Croatan. The area just doesn’t have the juice. If you’re desperate, maybe Monday the 3rd morning or that glassy Sunday morning the 9th, but be prepared to work for scraps.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Sun afternoon, min 23°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 29mm), heaviest during Mon afternoon. Warm (max 28°C on Sun night, min 22°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | ||||||||||||||
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 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 6 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 20 | 9 | 10 | 23 | 7 | 16 | 13 | 54 | 49 | 108 | 96 | 33 | 71 | 30 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 12 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:17PM1.12m | 9:42AM0.99m | 9:55PM1.11m | 10:21AM1.02m | 10:33PM1.08m | 11:02AM1.06m | 11:13PM1.04m | 11:44AM1.09m | 11:56PM0.99m | 12:29PM1.12m | 00:42AM0.94m | 1:20PM1.14m | 1:35AM0.90m | ||||||
Low Tide | 3:32AM0.03m | 3:40PM0.11m | 4:08AM0.02m | 4:22PM0.12m | 4:45AM0.02m | 5:09PM0.14m | 5:25AM0.02m | 5:59PM0.15m | 6:09AM0.03m | 6:54PM0.16m | 6:58AM0.04m | 7:53PM0.17m | |||||||
 | | |  | |  |  | | |  |  | |  | |  | | |  |  | |
 | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — |
 | 8:12 | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 2 | — | 3 | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 26 | 28 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 23 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 26 |
Feels °C | 28 | 26 | 28 | 25 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 28 | 24 | 26 | 23 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | ENE 6 | ESE 8 | NE 6 | NE 6 | E 6 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 6 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 |
| kJ | 20 | 9 | 10 | 23 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 96 | 33 | 71 | 30 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 12 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | E 9 | ENE 7 | NE 5 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | SSE 6 | S 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 10 |
| kJ | 2 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 7 | E 9 | NE 6 | ESE 8 | — | NE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 12 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SSE 3 | — | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | SW 3 | SSE 4 | SW 4 | W 3 | — | — | — | — | S 2 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 2 | — | 16 | 13 | 54 | 49 | 108 | 1 | 19 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 138 | 138 | 593 | 138 | 404 | 1231 | 852 | 639 | 913 | 916 | 852 | 14 | 16 | 138 | 622 | 404 | 878 | 1365 | 878 |
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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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