Surf Forecasts:
Croatan surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 8s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 9s period, ESE swell with 124 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 8s 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 Saturday (Aug 22) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 4s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 3s 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 0.9m 9s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 5PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Croatan over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this 16-day stretch for the Croatan area is a flat spell, plain and simple. We’re looking at a long stretch of nothing much to get excited about. The water is sitting at a warm 81°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that's about the only thing that's running hot.
The whole first week, from Friday the 21st of August right through to the end of the month, is a write-off. We’re talking tiny 1ft to 2ft windswell with weak energy. The wind is all over the shop – cross-on, onshore, or just plain messy. It’s poor surf, day after day.
You get a little glimmer of hope on the afternoon of Saturday the 22nd, with a clean cross-off breeze and surfable, but still very ordinary, 1ft waves. Then Sunday the 23rd afternoon goes glassy, but the swell is a pathetic 0.7ft with a 12-second period, so it’s a lake, not a surf break. The energy is barely registering. Monday the 24th keeps that glassy vibe but still only 1ft. It’s frustrating.
The first real shift comes on Friday the 28th of August. The morning session shows a clean, cross-off northwest wind with 2ft swell from the ESE. The energy climbs. It’s still small, but it’s the cleanest and most energetic we’ve seen. It’s surfable, but nothing to write home about.
Then we hit a second gap. From Saturday the 29th straight through to Tuesday the 1st of September, it’s back to tiny, onshore, choppy junk. We’re talking 1ft to 1ft, with energy dropping way off. Not worth paddling out.
The best of this whole outlook lands on Wednesday the 2nd of September. The morning has a moderate offshore wind from the WSW, cleaning up a 1ft ESE swell with a 10-second period. The afternoon goes perfectly glassy with the same size and period. It’s the one standout – a late afternoon glass-off session with tiny, clean lines. It’s not big, but it’s the only time the conditions come together for a proper, clean surf.
After that, it’s back to the same old story. Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th are onshore and messy, and Saturday the 5th of September is dead calm with a 0.7ft bump. A real dud of a run.
If you’re a kite surfer, the constant onshore wind and tiny, weak surf might look more interesting than it does for a paddle surfer. The setup just isn’t delivering for us.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 30mm), heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 29°C on Sun afternoon, min 22°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 31°C on Mon afternoon, min 23°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ENE 4 | E 13 | E 13 | E 8 | E 12 | E 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 5 | E 6 | E 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 13 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 27 | 26 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 17 | 16 | 20 | 25 | 25 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 3:19PM1.01m | 3:33AM0.75m | 4:22PM1.01m | 4:43AM0.77m | 5:19PM1.04m | 5:41AM0.82m | 6:08PM1.08m | 6:29AM0.89m | 6:51PM1.12m | 7:11AM0.96m | 7:30PM1.15m | 7:51AM1.03m | 8:09PM1.17m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:42AM0.27m | 9:54PM0.32m | 9:38AM0.28m | 10:51PM0.31m | 10:36AM0.27m | 11:43PM0.27m | 11:32AM0.24m | 00:29AM0.22m | 12:24PM0.20m | 1:09AM0.16m | 1:10PM0.16m | 1:46AM0.11m | 1:54PM0.12m | 2:21AM0.06m | |||||||
 | |  |  | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — |
 | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:38 | — |
mm | — | — | 16 | 4 | 6 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 |
Temp °C | 23 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 29 | 27 | 26 | 31 | 29 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 25 |
Feels °C | 24 | 25 | 23 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 30 | 28 | 23 | 31 | 28 | 21 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | SE 3 | ENE 4 | NE 4 | NE 6 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 5 | ESE 9 | E 6 |
| kJ | 13 | 16 | 3 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 27 | 26 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 17 | 16 | 20 | 17 | 25 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 4 | SE 4 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 12 | SSE 5 | NNE 3 | — | SE 5 | SE 4 | — | NE 7 | NE 6 | E 14 | ESE 9 | E 12 | ESE 10 |
| kJ | 2 | 1 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 4 | 11 | 3 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 18 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 15 | E 7 | E 7 | NNE 6 | E 13 | E 13 | NE 6 | E 12 | ESE 8 | E 7 | E 7 | SE 5 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 16 | E 15 | E 6 | E 7 | E 8 | E 12 |
| kJ | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 13 | 5 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 4 | NE 4 | NE 5 | — | SSE 3 | SSE 4 | WSW 3 | — | — | NNE 4 | SE 5 | SSE 3 | NNE 3 | NE 4 | SE 3 | ESE 4 | ESE 3 | ESE 4 | — | E 6 | — |
| kJ | 11 | 6 | 7 | — | 3 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | — | 25 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1231 | 1604 | 176 | 242 | 0 | 294 | 138 | 138 | 145 | 175 | 418 | 356 | 138 | 138 | 540 | 927 | 1132 | 882 | 178 | 178 | 78 |
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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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