
Surf Forecasts:
Croatan surf forecast from 29 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 3 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period, SSE swell with 172 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 3 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 5s period with SSE 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 Monday (Aug 03) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 6s is also forecast. 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 1.3m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Croatan over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Croatan over the next couple of weeks.
Rusty here. To be honest, it’s looking pretty lean. The water’s running a bit colder than usual for this time of year, about 76°, which is a touch under – you’ll feel it. But that’s the least of our worries.
Things kick off from Wednesday the 29th, but don’t get excited. The swell is tiny, barely 2ft out of the SE with a short 7-second period. The combined wave energy is weak (45), and the wind is cross-offshore, which keeps it clean, but there just isn’t enough oomph. This flat spell drags on through the rest of the week and into the weekend. Thursday the 30th and Friday the 31st are even smaller – we’re talking around 1ft with hardly any energy. Saturday and Sunday are a write-off too, with messy onshore winds and next to no swell.
There’s a slight bump on Monday the 3rd of August. The morning shows about 3ft from the SE, period still short at 7 seconds, but energy climbs to 77. Wind turns cross-offshore, so it cleans up. The afternoon sees a touch more size, hitting 3ft with even better offshore wind from the WNW, and energy just cracking 105. The waves are surfable but nothing to write home about.
Things stay ordinary for the rest of the first week and into the second. We get a run of poor conditions with onshore wind and chopped-up surf.
Then, around Saturday the 9th of August, things finally get interesting. The morning brings about 5ft from the SE, period stretching out nicely to 12 seconds – that’s proper groundswell energy. The combined energy is a solid 659, which is moderate to strong. The wind is cross-shore, but it’s a moderate breeze so expect some chop. The afternoon holds similar size and period, shifting to ESE, with a lighter NNE breeze and still cross-shore. The energy drops a little to 567. This is the standout window – cleanest conditions of the whole outlook. The swell direction is from the ESE, right in the sweet spot for Croatan. The 12-second period means longer waits between sets, but better shaped waves. Keep in mind, though, with 5ft, it might be a bit heavy for beginners.
Monday the 10th sees the swell linger, with about 5ft from the ESE in the morning, period at 11 seconds, but the wind goes onshore, making it messy. Tuesday the 11th is similar – solid energy in the 400s but onshore wind spoils it.
After that, the swell fades and we’re back to small, clean but weak conditions through Wednesday and Thursday the 13th. Energy drops to the low hundreds.
If you’ve got a window, Saturday the 9th is your best bet. It’s not perfect, but that’s the closest we get to a decent wave in this forecast.
Stay tuned, it tends not to stay poor for long.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 23°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 27mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Sat afternoon, min 22°C on Sun afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | |||||||||||||||
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 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 9 | SE 3 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | SE 4 | SSE 5 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
42 | 25 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 15 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 24 | 23 | 40 | 32 | 77 | 105 | 49 | 29 | 17 | 23 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross | on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 8:21AM0.91m | 8:39PM1.13m | 9:02AM0.95m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:17PM0.11m | 2:57AM0.06m | 2:58PM0.10m | 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 | ||||||||
6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | |
— | 8:13 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 7 | 4 | — | 7 | 6 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 29 | 25 | 25 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 29 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 24 |
Feels °C | 24 | 30 | 26 | 24 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 25 | 28 | 25 | 24 | 27 | 31 | 31 | 25 | 26 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 6 | NE 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | NE 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | — | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 |
42 | 25 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 22 | 77 | — | 49 | 29 | 17 | 23 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | NE 6 | — | NE 6 | NE 5 | NE 8 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | — | — | E 13 | E 8 | NNE 3 | — |
1 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | NE 6 | E 8 | E 9 | — | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | ESE 9 | — | NE 6 | E 7 | — | — | — | — | E 13 | E 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 |
2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | 6 | 7 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | 7 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 4 | N 4 | — | NNW 3 | N 3 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 3 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | SE 4 | SSE 5 | WSW 3 | SSE 7 | — | — | — | — |
13 | 7 | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 24 | 23 | 40 | 32 | 2 | 105 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 176 | 292 | 138 | 242 | 299 | 175 | 138 | 593 | 593 | 593 | 1604 | 484 | 418 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 242 | 242 | 242 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Virginia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










