Surf Forecasts:
Croatan surf forecast from 9 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 14 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 5s period, NNE swell with 52 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Croatan this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Croatan in the next 16 days are 1.1m 5s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 14) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Fri 14th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Croatan over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, it’s your old mate Rusty here, and I’ve got to be straight with you – this is about as flat and quiet as I’ve seen it for a while. The next sixteen days are a tough stretch for surfers around Croatan. We’ve got a solid two-week gap where it’s just not worth paddling out. The swell is tiny, period is short, and the energy is barely registering. You’d be better off keeping the board in the car.
Let’s walk through it. From Sunday, August 9th, right through until Saturday, August 22nd, it’s grim. The swell heights sit between 0.3 ft and 3 ft, but mostly hanging around the 1.0 ft to 2 ft mark. Periods are short – 4 to 8 seconds – so it's weak, wind-affected slop. The combined wave energy is low, never hitting the triple digits, typically sitting between 4 and 98. The wind is a mixed bag, with some offshore and glassy moments, but the lack of size means it’s just not surfable. Even though you get clean conditions, you’re looking at flat waves with no push. It’s heartbreaking.
The water temperature is sitting at a warm 80°F, which is 1°F above the average for this time of year, so at least it’s comfortable while you’re waiting.
Now, the one bright spot – and I really do mean one, very late in the window – is Croatan itself, on the morning of Saturday, August 23rd. It’s glassy with a light breeze from the SSE, and we get a clean 2 ft swell from the ENE, with a period of 6 seconds. The combined energy is only 47, so it’s still small and weak. But for the first time in the outlook, it’s described as 'surfable'. It’s not going to blow your mind – tiny, short-period waves – but if you’re desperate for a paddle, it’s the only game in town. Because the swell is under 3 ft, it’s fine for beginners, but honestly, it’s just tiny.
Apart from that, you’ve got a possible, very ordinary session on Saturday, August 22nd morning, with a 3 ft NNE swell and a 5-second period. The wind is cross-off from the SSW and it’s clean, but the period is so short it’s barely going to wrap in.
That’s the lot, really. A long, quiet run. Don’t get your hopes up for the second week – the swell is still tiny and the period is short. The late August 23rd morning is the only one I’d even bother checking the tide for. Hang in there.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 34°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 31°C on Wed afternoon, min 20°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | |||||||||||||||
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 7 | SE 7 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | S 4 | SE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 3 | N 4 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 4 | NNE 4 | NNE 5 | NE 5 | SE 8 | NE 5 | NE 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 18 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 9 | 21 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 52 | 22 | 17 | 14 | 10 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | off | off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on | on | on | cross | cross | cross | glassy |
High Tide | 5:33PM1.25m | 5:59AM0.97m | 6:33PM1.29m | 6:57AM1.05m | 7:27PM1.31m | 7:52AM1.12m | 8:17PM1.30m | 8:44AM1.17m | 9:05PM1.27m | 9:33AM1.21m | 9:50PM1.21m | 10:21AM1.21m | 10:33PM1.13m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:55AM0.01m | 00:05AM0.07m | 11:59AM-0.03m | 1:02AM0.01m | 12:59PM-0.07m | 1:52AM-0.04m | 1:56PM-0.09m | 2:39AM-0.07m | 2:48PM-0.08m | 3:23AM-0.08m | 3:38PM-0.04m | 4:05AM-0.06m | 4:28PM0.02m | 4:47AM-0.02m | |||||||
 |  |  | | |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:54 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 30 | 33 | 30 | 28 | 34 | 32 | 28 | 31 | 25 | 27 | 31 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 25 | 24 |
Feels °C | 31 | 34 | 31 | 30 | 34 | 33 | 29 | 33 | 27 | 30 | 33 | 33 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | E 9 | SE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 3 | SE 8 | NNE 4 | ESE 8 | SSE 4 | SE 8 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | SE 6 | NE 5 | SE 8 | SSE 7 | NE 5 |
| kJ | 18 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 9 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 22 | 14 | 5 | 10 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | SE 6 | E 8 | E 10 | E 8 | E 9 | N 3 | SE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 8 | NE 4 | ESE 8 | NE 4 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 10 | SE 7 | — | SE 8 | ESE 8 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 12 | — | 3 | 6 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 11 | E 9 | E 10 | E 8 | E 9 | E 8 | E 9 | SE 8 | — | SE 6 | E 8 | NE 4 | E 7 | E 13 | SE 6 | E 12 | E 12 | E 8 | E 12 | SE 6 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 2 | — | SW 3 | WSW 3 | SSW 3 | S 4 | NW 3 | — | — | N 4 | — | SSE 3 | — | ESE 2 | — | NNE 4 | NNE 5 | — | NE 5 | NE 5 | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 2 | — | — | 7 | — | 3 | — | 1 | — | 7 | 52 | — | 17 | 14 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 138 | 378 | 299 | 878 | 1239 | 292 | 242 | 391 | 138 | 1142 | 1142 | 299 | 138 | 138 | 165 | 242 | 639 | 242 | 242 | 1258 | 242 |
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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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