Croatan Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.79° N 75.96° W

Croatan Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 pm 16 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Croatan sea temperature is
26.2°C
2.6° 

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


Croatan surf forecast from 16 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 18 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 8s period, ENE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 22 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, ENE swell with 887 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 18 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 8s period with ENE 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 Friday (Sep 18) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.7m 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 2.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 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 0.6m 3s period and expected on Monday (Sep 21) at 2AM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Fri 18th Sep)1.5ft (0.4m) 8s
Best Surf 2AM (Fri 18th Sep)1.5ft (0.4m) 8s
Most Powerful11PM (Tue 22nd Sep)8ft (2.5m) 8s

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


Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Fri afternoon, min 20°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Warm (max 26°C on Sun afternoon, min 22°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Wed
16
Thursday
17
Friday
18
Saturday
19
Sunday
20
Monday
21
Tuesday
22
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
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
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)
0.7
E
6
0.5
E
6
0.4
ENE
6
0.5
E
8
0.4
ENE
8
0.4
ENE
7
0.4
E
7
0.2
E
12
0.7
ENE
4
0.8
ENE
5
0.9
E
7
1.2
E
8
1.1
E
8
0.8
E
7
0.7
E
8
0.7
ESE
8
0.7
ESE
8
1.4
NE
7
2.4
ENE
8
2.4
ENE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
38
18
12
29
23
18
15
11
14
30
83
160
138
67
64
67
52
163
653
789
Wind (km/h)
10
ESE
10
S
10
SSE
15
SE
15
SW
10
WSW
10
NNE
10
NE
20
NE
15
E
15
ESE
15
SE
20
SSE
15
SSW
10
NW
20
NE
15
ENE
25
ENE
30
ENE
30
ENE
Wind State
on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-off
off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
00:08AM0.88m
12:44PM1.08m
00:56AM0.83m
1:36PM1.03m
1:51AM0.80m
2:35PM1.00m
2:57AM0.80m
3:40PM1.00m
4:08AM0.83m
4:40PM1.03m
5:08AM0.89m
5:30PM1.07m
Low Tide
6:25PM0.28m
6:18AM0.27m
7:18PM0.33m
7:10AM0.32m
8:15PM0.36m
8:07AM0.35m
9:12PM0.36m
9:07AM0.35m
10:07PM0.34m
10:06AM0.33m
10:58PM0.30m
11:03AM0.29m
11:43PM0.23m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
thunderstorm
mod rain
light rain
cloud
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:47
6:48
6:48
6:48
6:50
6:50
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:09
7:07
7:07
7:05
7:04
7:01
7:00
 mm
6
7
2
Temp °C
22
21
23
25
24
25
27
26
24
24
23
25
26
25
26
25
22
22
22
23
Feels °C
22
20
22
24
23
26
28
28
24
23
23
25
25
26
28
27
22
21
20
21
  • 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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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Croatan surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


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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