Croatan surf break

Croatan surfForecast / Virginia / USA

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 1 pm Monday 18 May 2026 EDT
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Croatan surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Croatan sea temperature is
17.0° C
(Which is 1.5°C colder than average for this time of year)

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 Tuesday (May 19) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 4s 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 1.5m 7s and forecast to arrive on Friday (May 22) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (May 20) at 8AM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Tue 19th May)1.5ft (0.4m) 8s
Best Surf 5AM (Tue 19th May)1.5ft (0.4m) 8s
Most Powerful11PM (Fri 22nd May)5ft (1.5m) 7s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Croatan over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Wed afternoon, min 20°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Thu afternoon. Warm (max 23°C on Sat night, min 13°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Mon
18
Tuesday
19
Wednesday
20
Thursday
21
Friday
22
Saturday
23
Sunday
24
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
SSE
4
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
1.1
SSE
5
0.9
S
4
0.4
ESE
9
1.1
SSE
5
0.9
SSE
5
0.6
SE
8
1.1
NE
5
1.1
NE
5
1.5
ENE
6
1.3
ENE
7
1.5
ENE
7
1.2
E
7
1.1
E
7
1
E
7
0.8
ENE
8
0.7
ENE
8
0.9
ENE
7
0.8
ENE
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
37
26
27
48
33
29
48
40
58
51
74
149
158
228
152
114
112
79
62
96
62
Wind (km/h)
30
SSE
20
SSW
15
SSW
25
SSE
20
SSW
20
SW
25
S
10
SW
15
NNE
25
NE
25
NE
20
NE
20
NNE
15
ENE
15
E
15
ESE
10
SW
10
NNW
15
NE
15
NE
10
N
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross
High Tide
9:55PM1.35m
10:27AM0.99m
10:49PM1.29m
11:22AM0.98m
11:45PM1.20m
12:19PM0.97m
00:41AM1.11m
1:20PM0.96m
1:39AM1.02m
2:23PM0.98m
2:40AM0.94m
3:27PM1.00m
3:42AM0.87m
Low Tide
3:28PM-0.13m
4:27AM-0.12m
4:22PM-0.09m
5:22AM-0.07m
5:21PM-0.04m
6:20AM-0.02m
6:24PM0.02m
7:18AM0.02m
7:31PM0.07m
8:13AM0.04m
8:37PM0.10m
9:05AM0.05m
9:41PM0.12m
9:54AM0.06m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
light rain
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
mod rain
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:52
5:52
5:52
5:50
5:50
5:50
5:48
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:06
8:07
8:07
8:08
8:08
8:09
8:10
8:12
3
3
2
2
3
7
1
Temp °C
30
26
26
30
26
27
31
26
21
16
14
14
15
15
16
20
23
20
18
15
16
29
25
25
28
24
26
29
24
23
13
10
11
14
14
15
20
24
21
18
13
17
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
NE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
9
0.4
ESE
9
0.9
SSE
5
0.6
SE
8
0.6
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.1
E
14
0.4
ESE
8
0.1
E
13
1.2
E
7
1.1
E
7
1
E
7
0.8
ENE
8
0.7
ENE
8
0.3
SSE
5
0.8
ENE
7
Energy kJ
2
26
27
27
28
29
25
40
58
47
26
4
26
3
152
114
112
79
62
5
62
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
E
14
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
14
0.1
E
16
0.1
E
15
0.1
E
15
0.4
ESE
9
0.1
E
14
0.1
E
14
0.1
E
14
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
13
0.4
SSE
4
0.2
ESE
7
0.4
SSE
6
0.4
SE
7
0.4
SE
7
Energy kJ
4
4
4
4
5
4
4
30
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
7
5
12
12
12
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
E
18
0.1
E
7
0.1
E
16
0.1
E
16
0.1
E
14
0.1
E
14
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
9
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
12
0.2
ESE
7
0.1
E
12
0.1
E
9
Energy kJ
6
1
5
5
4
4
3
2
3
3
5
3
2
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
SSE
4
0.8
S
4
0.6
S
5
1.1
SSE
5
0.9
S
4
0.6
S
3
1.1
SSE
5
0.2
WSW
3
0.6
NE
3
1.1
NE
5
1.1
NE
5
1.5
ENE
6
1.3
ENE
7
1.5
ENE
7
0.4
SE
3
0.5
S
4
0.4
SSE
5
0.4
NNE
3
0.9
ENE
7
Energy kJ
37
26
15
48
33
8
48
1
9
51
74
149
158
228
2
9
10
4
96
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Distance (km)
1231
334
78
423
334
82
391
0
78
1138
165
92
178
176
485
172
0
0
138
178
100
Best forecast wave conditions in Virginia
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
Best forecast wave conditions in United States
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
3
2
4
3
1
3
2
1
2
1
2
2
1
2
2
1
1
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
5
5
5
4
4
4
5
5
7
5
5
7
9
5
4
4
5
6
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Quick surf report for Croatan:

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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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