Surf Forecasts:
Croatan surf forecast from 3 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 8 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 10s period, ENE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s period, ENE swell with 248 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 3 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s 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 Thursday (Sep 03) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 3s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Croatan in the next 16 days are 1.7m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Croatan over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s break down the same period but in feet and Fahrenheit, keeping it real for those who think in bigger numbers.
To kick things off, it’s flat. Barely a bump worth mentioning for the first week. You’ll be waiting.
On Thursday the 3rd of September at Croatan, we’ve got a tiny 2ft swell from the ESE, light southerly winds making it cross-off. The wave energy is weak at (53). It’s surfable, but only just. Don’t get your hopes up.
From Friday the 4th through the middle of the next week, it’s a desert. Nothing but small, onshore slop and glassy spells with no swell behind them. A total loss for paddle surfing.
Monday the 7th sees a jump to 5ft of ENE swell, but the wind is cross-onshore and choppy. The combined energy hits (224). This one is more for the kite crew – big enough, but messy. Water temp is about average for this time of year.
Tuesday the 8th is similar, 3ft of ENE swell with a 10-second period, but cross-onshore winds ruin the shape. Energy is moderate (163).
Now, here’s your moment. Sunday the 13th of September delivers a clean 4ft easterly swell, with a southerly cross-off breeze and clean surfaces. Moderate energy at (119). Surprise, surprise – it’s actually fun. But the real gold is Monday morning the 14th of September: a clean 3ft easterly swell, with a light offshore wind from the WSW. That means glassy, clean lines. The combined energy is (100). For a break that’s fairly consistent and exposed to the ESE, this is the best you’re gonna get in this 16-day stretch. The swell direction matches what this spot likes. Get on it.
After that, it fades again. Tuesday the 15th drops off, and Wednesday the 16th has some size (4ft) but messy wind.
So, keep your powder dry until Monday the 14th. That’s the only real standout. Small, clean, and user-friendly.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 35°C on Fri afternoon, min 24°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Thu night, calm by Fri afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 25°C on Sun morning, min 21°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | ||||||||||||||
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 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | S 5 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 6 | N 3 | NNE 4 | NE 5 | ESE 8 | NE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 47 | 45 | 30 | 20 | 13 | 17 | 25 | 8 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 196 | 223 | 139 | 197 | 151 | 135 | 76 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | on | off | cross-off | glassy | off | cross | on | off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 00:23AM0.97m | 12:57PM1.22m | 1:18AM0.93m | 1:58PM1.20m | 2:22AM0.91m | 3:06PM1.19m | 3:34AM0.92m | 4:18PM1.20m | 4:45AM0.98m | 5:24PM1.23m | 5:49AM1.06m | 6:20PM1.25m | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:32AM0.09m | 7:36PM0.20m | 7:31AM0.11m | 8:40PM0.21m | 8:34AM0.12m | 9:45PM0.20m | 9:40AM0.10m | 10:49PM0.17m | 10:47AM0.08m | 11:48PM0.12m | 11:51AM0.04m | 00:41AM0.06m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | | |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — |
 | 7:30 | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | 2 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 29 | 34 | 30 | 30 | 35 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 23 |
Feels °C | 30 | 32 | 36 | 30 | 32 | 38 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | NE 5 | ESE 8 | ENE 8 | SE 9 | E 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 |
| kJ | 47 | 45 | 30 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 25 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 1 | 139 | 197 | 151 | 135 | 76 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 3 | NE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | S 5 | ENE 5 | ESE 8 | SSE 6 | ENE 7 | ESE 8 | E 8 | ESE 9 | — | — | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 |
| kJ | 2 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 8 | — | — | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | — | — | — | ENE 6 | NE 5 | E 6 | ENE 6 | S 6 | E 7 | S 5 | S 5 | — | — | — | — | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | — |
| kJ | 2 | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 7 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 3 | S 5 | W 3 | S 4 | WSW 3 | N 3 | NNE 4 | — | NE 3 | NE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 7 | — | — | — | — | S 3 |
| kJ | — | — | 5 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 11 | — | 5 | 11 | 196 | 223 | — | — | — | — | 4 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 16 | 0 | 175 | 0 | 352 | 803 | 242 | 138 | 1245 | 242 | 778 | 462 | 255 | 280 | 33 | 0 | 33 | 481 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Virginia | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)- Wind Speed (km/h)
FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website
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.
Nearest