Surf Forecasts:
Croatan surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s period, SE swell with 65 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Croatan this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Croatan in the next 16 days are 0.7m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Sat 8th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Croatan over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s be real – the next week and a half is a bust for the most part at Croatan. This is a beach and jetty break, and it’s gonna be a long stretch of nothing.
We’ve got a big gap right at the start. From Saturday, August 8th, all the way through Tuesday, August 18th, the swell is tiny, mostly under 3 feet, with periods that are short and weak. The combined energy is pathetic, barely cracking 100 (peak is 94). The wind is all over the place, mostly cross or onshore, and the water’s about 80°, which is normal for the time of year. It’s just a long, boring stretch of poor conditions. Don’t bother.
The one real standout, the only window that’s worth paddling out for, is the morning of Thursday, August 21st. That morning, we’ve got glassy, clean conditions with a 5-foot swell from the east-northeast, and a period of 9 seconds, giving it some decent shape. The combined energy kicks up to 413 (moderate to strong), so there’s some real push. The wind is dead calm – that’s a huge plus. The only thing is that 5-foot swell is getting a bit big for beginners, and the period is moderate, not super long, so it should hold up okay. But the afternoon looks more ordinary with an onshore breeze, so hit it first thing.
Before that, on the morning of Wednesday, August 19th, we get a little bump: about 6 feet from the south-southeast with a short period of 6 seconds. The combined energy is 224 (moderate), and the wind is cross-offshore, keeping it clean. But the swell direction is from the south-southeast, which isn’t the best angle for Croatan (they want a east-southeast swell), so it’s a bit off. Not a standout, just a maybe.
So, the bottom line: a long, flat start, one morning of promise on the 21st, and then it’s back to the waiting game. Keep the board waxed and the eyes on the water, but don’t hold your breath.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Warm (max 33°C on Sun afternoon, min 24°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Wed night. Warm (max 32°C on Tue afternoon, min 23°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | SE 8 | S 5 | SE 7 | SE 7 | S 5 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SSE 4 | SSE 6 | S 3 | S 4 | SSE 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 5 | SSE 8 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 64 | 30 | 40 | 13 | 17 | 28 | 19 | 9 | 16 | 7 | 2 | 17 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 22 | 15 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | on | off | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:28PM1.21m | 4:54AM0.91m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:50AM0.03m | 11:03PM0.12m | 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 | |||||||
 |  |  | | | |  |  |  | | |  | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 5 |
Temp °C | 29 | 32 | 31 | 29 | 33 | 29 | 26 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 29 | 32 | 26 | 27 | 29 | 26 | 31 | 33 | 28 |
Feels °C | 31 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 35 | 29 | 28 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 34 | 34 | 30 | 34 | 27 | 30 | 31 | 27 | 32 | 35 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SSE 4 | SSE 6 | E 9 | SE 8 | SSE 5 | SSE 7 | SSE 4 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 5 | SSE 8 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 64 | 30 | 21 | 13 | 17 | 5 | 19 | 9 | 16 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 22 | 15 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | SSE 5 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | SE 6 | E 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSE 5 | — | NE 5 | ESE 7 | E 9 | NE 5 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 3 | — | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | E 9 | E 11 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 12 | E 8 | SSE 4 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | NE 5 | — | E 7 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 3 | S 4 | S 5 | WSW 3 | S 2 | S 5 | WSW 3 | SSW 2 | WSW 2 | — | S 3 | S 4 | — | SW 3 | — | — | — | SSE 4 | W 3 | NNE 5 | ESE 3 |
| kJ | 2 | 9 | 40 | 2 | 1 | 28 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 17 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 11 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 78 | 217 | 78 | 197 | 487 | 878 | 1239 | 197 | 484 | 2696 | 294 | 138 | 289 | 138 | 138 | 2208 | 417 | 294 | 2892 | 138 |
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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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