Surf Forecasts:
Croatan surf forecast from 31 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 2 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 11s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 9s period, ENE swell with 300 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 2 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 11s period with ESE 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 Wednesday (Sep 02) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 11s 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 1.4m 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore 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 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Croatan over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the table for the next couple of weeks. Honestly, it's a pretty flat and messy stretch ahead, so don't be in a rush.
Right now, the pattern is all about small, weak swell and less-than-ideal wind for Croatan. The first real chance of anything decent doesn't show up until way down the line, with a big gap of mostly poor conditions. The water is sitting at a warm 79°, which is a touch warmer than normal for the time of year.
Starting out, Monday August 31st is a washout with tiny 1ft swell from the ESE and a weak period of 8 seconds, combined energy low at 24. The morning is glassy, but the afternoon turns cross-on. Tuesday through to the end of the first week is more of the same – small swells under 3ft, poor wind directions, and the wave comment says it all: "poor surf conditions." Thursday morning, September 3rd, offers a brief moment of clean, gentle offshore wind from the WSW, but the swell is still a weak 2ft from the SE with 74 combined energy. It's barely enough for a longboard, but the conditions are the best they've been.
The second week stays grim. Wind is often cross-on or onshore, and the swell sticks below 4ft until September 6th and 7th, where a bit of NE energy shows up with combined energy reaching 139 to 246, but the wind is cross-on and choppy, ruining any real quality. A bit of a tease on September 8th with clean cross-off winds from the SSW, but the swell drops back to a weak 3ft.
Now, the one true standout is a whole two weeks out, on Monday, September 14th. The morning is promising 6ft swell from the NE, with combined energy of 240, and it's glassy – absolutely dead calm. That's the best condition in the entire forecast. Croatan will be clean with that overhead-ish swell, though the period is short at 6 seconds, so it'll be a bit lumpy and won't have the punch of a groundswell. The afternoon deteriorates with a cross-on wind.
All in all, if you're patient, the 14th of September is your best and pretty much only shot at something decent. Don't hold your breath for anything before that. The rest of the run is a write-off.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 32°C on Tue afternoon, min 25°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Fri night. Warm (max 36°C on Thu afternoon, min 22°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | NE 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 23 | 21 | 19 | 12 | 30 | 46 | 64 | 85 | 55 | 50 | 37 | 17 | 13 | 17 | 47 | 37 | 31 | 28 | 123 | 136 | 248 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross | on | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:32AM1.22m | 10:49PM1.07m | 11:16AM1.23m | 11:34PM1.02m | 12:04PM1.23m | 00:23AM0.97m | 12:57PM1.22m | 1:18AM0.93m | 1:58PM1.20m | 2:22AM0.91m | 3:06PM1.19m | 3:34AM0.92m | 4:18PM1.20m | 4:45AM0.98m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:47PM0.11m | 4:54AM0.04m | 5:38PM0.14m | 5:40AM0.06m | 6:35PM0.17m | 6:32AM0.09m | 7:36PM0.20m | 7:31AM0.11m | 8:40PM0.21m | 8:34AM0.12m | 9:45PM0.20m | 9:40AM0.10m | 10:49PM0.17m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — |
 | — | 7:34 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:24 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 27 | 31 | 36 | 34 | 30 | 33 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 |
Feels °C | 31 | 30 | 28 | 31 | 35 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 30 | 32 | 38 | 35 | 31 | 35 | 28 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 19 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SSE 5 | ESE 8 | ENE 7 | SSE 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 7 | ESE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 |
| kJ | 23 | 21 | 19 | 12 | 6 | 46 | 64 | 85 | 55 | 50 | 37 | 17 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 3 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 5 | NE 5 | SSE 3 | SE 9 | ESE 13 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | — | ENE 7 | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | E 6 | SE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | E 7 | ESE 8 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 13 | 9 | — | 5 | 21 | 19 | 9 | 3 | 17 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 6 | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 9 | — | E 14 | — | E 9 | — | — | — | S 4 | — | SE 8 | NE 6 | — | ESE 8 | SSE 7 | S 7 | E 9 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 1 | — | 4 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 3 | — | 17 | 1 | — | 6 | 5 | 1 | 6 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 2 | SW 3 | SSW 2 | SSE 7 | S 4 | SW 3 | — | SSW 3 | WSW 3 | S 3 | WSW 3 | SW 3 | SSW 3 | NE 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | 30 | 12 | 3 | — | 3 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 47 | 37 | 31 | 28 | 123 | 136 | 248 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1036 | 1137 | 138 | 138 | 175 | 0 | 46 | 255 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 0 | 137 | 175 | 0 | 242 | 745 | 385 | 255 | 745 | 196 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Virginia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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