Croatan Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again, this time in feet and knots for you.

Looking at the next 16 days for Croatan, and I'm not gonna sugarcoat it – it's a dry spell. The swell energy is barely ticking over, mostly down in the low hundreds, so the ocean’s been put on mute. Water’s about normal for this time of year, but that’s about the only good news.

Starting Saturday 22 August, you’ve got waves around 1ft out of the ESE with an 8-second period. Saturday has a light cross-off wind keeping it clean, but the energy is weak (30 to 42). Sunday 23 shows a clean offshore from the WNW in the morning, giving you glass, but still just 1ft and only (16) energy. Monday 24 brings a 12-second groundswell but only 1ft, so it’s a long wait between tiny lines. The morning offshore cleans it up, but it’s not doing anything.

Through the end of the week, Tuesday 25 to Friday 28, the swell stays stuck at 1ft to maybe 1ft, with periods bouncing between 8 and 11 seconds. Energy readings stay in the 20s and 30s. Friday morning has a clean offshore from the WSW with a 9-second period, and the energy hits (38), but it’s still poor quality. Nothing to get excited about.

The weekend of 29 and 30 August is more of the same: 1ft swell, cross-shore or onshore winds, a bit of chop. Not worth the drive.

Then on Monday 31 August, things get interesting but still not great. Swell is 1ft, but the period jumps to 18-19 seconds – that's a long-period groundswell. Energy reads (78) to (85), which is moderate, and the cross-off from the SW keeps it glassy. But that kind of period at a beach break like Croatan will make the waves roll in flat and straight, better suited to a point or reef. Only the afternoon manages a ‘surfable but very ordinary’ rating.

Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 September see 1ft swell with 14-15 second periods. Tuesday has a cross-off from the NNW that could shape up a clean little wave. Wednesday 2 morning is the best in the whole window: glassy conditions, 1ft, 12-second period, combined energy of (95). That’s the highest energy reading, but still just a waist-high wave. Not a proper standout.

Friday 4 September morning is glassy with 1ft at 9 seconds, but it fades. Saturday 5 September throws a 3ft swell from the north but with a terrible 5-second period and strong cross-shore wind – absolute chop of the highest order. Not for surfing, more like kite-surfing conditions.

The two calls: Monday 31 August afternoon (1ft, 18-second period, clean, moderate energy) and Wednesday 2 September morning (1ft, 12-second period, glassy, (95) energy). Experienced surfers on a longboard might get a few fun ones. Beginners, sit this one out. It’s a quiet outlook, but that's how it goes sometimes. Forecasts change, so don't lose hope.

- Rusty

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