Croatan Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.79° N 75.96° W

Croatan Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 am 28 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Croatan sea temperature is
26.1°C
0.9° 

Croatan surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Croatan surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 12s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 11s period, ESE swell with 75 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 12s 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 Tuesday (Sep 01) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 2s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Croatan in the next 16 days are 0.6m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 31) at 2AM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Tue 1st Sep)1ft (0.3m) 12s
Best Surf11PM (Tue 1st Sep)1ft (0.3m) 12s
Most Powerful 2PM (Wed 2nd Sep)2ft (0.6m) 11s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are a tough watch for us. Let's get into it.

We’re kicking off with a real flat spell. The first week and a half is pretty much a write-off for any kind of decent wave. From Friday the 28th of August right through to the 8th of September, the swell is tiny and the conditions are messy. The water temp is sitting at 79°, which is about normal for this time of year, so at least a dip will be comfortable.

There’s a small glimmer on the morning of Wednesday the 2nd of September at Croatan. We’re looking at a tiny 2ft swell out of the ESE with a long period of 11 seconds. The combined wave energy is weak, just 81, but the wind is glassy. It’s surfable, but you’ll be on a log fighting for dribbles. It’s a beginner-friendly spot, and with the glass, it’ll be clean, but don’t expect much.

The only other moments that might get your heart rate up are the morning of Thursday the 3rd of September and Wednesday the 9th of September. On the 3rd, we get a 2ft ESE swell with clean offshore wind from the W, and energy at 52. The 9th has similar clean cross-off conditions with a 1ft SE swell. Both are still poor, just a little cleaner.

Into the second week, around Sunday the 6th of September, the swell tries to pick up a bit. We see a 3ft ENE swell on the 6th and 7th, with energy climbing to 133 and 142, but the wind is cross-onshore and choppy. It’s not going to be a pretty picture. That kind of small, wind-affected surf is honestly more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing right now.

Nothing here is a standout. The best we’ve got is a couple of glassy or offshore mornings with knee-high slop. If you’re desperate for a paddle, aim for the 2nd or the 3rd of September in the morning, but keep your expectations low. It’s a blank run, but forecasts change, so don’t bin the board just yet.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Warm (max 28°C on Fri afternoon, min 24°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 31°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.5
SE
8
0.3
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
7
0.4
SE
7
0.4
SE
7
0.4
SE
7
0.4
SE
9
0.5
ESE
11
0.5
ESE
10
0.5
ESE
10
0.5
ESE
9
0.4
ESE
9
0.4
ESE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
24
23
22
25
24
24
17
33
13
22
21
13
12
18
29
68
57
51
46
30
27
Wind (km/h)
5
WSW
5
S
5
NNW
15
ENE
10
ENE
10
SE
10
SE
15
SE
15
WSW
10
W
15
ESE
10
SW
10
WSW
5
NW
0
S
5
SE
20
SE
15
S
10
W
10
SE
15
SW
Wind State
cross-off
cross
glassy
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
off
on
cross-off
off
glassy
glassy
glassy
cross-on
cross
off
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
8:31AM1.09m
8:47PM1.17m
9:10AM1.15m
9:26PM1.15m
9:50AM1.19m
10:06PM1.12m
10:32AM1.22m
10:49PM1.07m
11:16AM1.23m
11:34PM1.02m
12:04PM1.23m
00:23AM0.97m
12:57PM1.22m
1:18AM0.93m
Low Tide
2:35PM0.09m
2:57AM0.03m
3:17PM0.08m
3:34AM0.02m
4:01PM0.09m
4:12AM0.02m
4:47PM0.11m
4:54AM0.04m
5:38PM0.14m
5:40AM0.06m
6:35PM0.17m
6:32AM0.09m
7:36PM0.20m
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
cloud
cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
thunderstorm
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:31
6:31
6:31
6:33
6:33
6:35
6:35
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:37
7:37
7:35
7:34
7:31
7:30
7:29
 mm
3
3
2
1
Temp °C
26
28
27
26
27
25
26
27
27
29
31
29
27
31
30
29
31
27
32
36
31
Feels °C
29
32
30
28
29
28
29
28
28
31
33
31
30
32
32
32
33
29
33
38
33
  • 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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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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