Surf Forecasts:
Croatan surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 6s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s period, ESE swell with 64 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 6s period with SE 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 (Aug 18) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 2s 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 0.7m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) 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 0.7m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Croatan over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, it’s Rusty here.
Honestly, the next week and a half is looking pretty grim for a paddle. We’ve got a long stretch of tiny, weak surf and not much wind cooperation. You’re looking at a solid nine days of nothing worth getting wet for, from the 15th right through to the 23rd. It’s all under 2ft, mostly wind-blown or just too soft to do anything with. Sure, the water’s warm at 80°F with a slight positive anomaly, so it’s comfortable to sit in, but you’ll be bobbing around more than riding. The wave energy numbers are barely registering – we’re talking 19 to 68 on the scale, which is just weak, mushy stuff.
There’s a tiny glimmer on the afternoon of the 21st when the wind goes cross-off and it cleans up a bit, but it’s still only 2ft and short-period. It’s surfable, but you’d be scratching for anything decent. It’s just one of those flat spells for Croatan.
Now, into the final week, things start to stir. The energy starts building from the 26th, with the combined swell energy jumping into the 127-187 range – that’s moderate energy, which is a big step up from what we’ve seen. By the 29th, Saturday, we’re looking at 4ft of east swell, but the period is only 7 seconds, so it’s going to be a bit crumbly and disorganised. The morning of the 29th has lighter winds, but it’s still cross-shore, so expect some chop. The afternoon picks up a moderate onshore breeze, so it’ll get messier.
The real standout – and the only one worth marking on the calendar – is the morning of the 30th, Sunday. That’s over a week away, so treat it as promising but not locked in. We’ve got 4ft of east swell with a clean 8-second period, and the wind is swinging to a cross-off from the southwest. That’s the cleanest window we’ve seen in this whole forecast. It’s not giant, but it’ll be the best shape and the most organised the waves will be all fortnight. It’s more of a longboard or funboard morning at Croatan. If it all lines up, that’s your session.
So, keep your board waxed for that Sunday the 30th. Everything before that is a write-off.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Warm (max 33°C on Mon afternoon, min 23°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 31°C on Thu afternoon, min 25°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 4 | E 5 | E 5 | SE 8 | SSE 4 | SSE 6 | ESE 7 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSE 4 | SE 5 | SE 5 | NE 5 | NE 6 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 17 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 18 | 20 | 17 | 33 | 15 | 59 | 40 | 34 | 31 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 8 | 30 | 43 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross | cross | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 10:33PM1.13m | 11:07AM1.20m | 11:16PM1.04m | 11:53AM1.16m | 11:58PM0.95m | 12:38PM1.12m | 00:42AM0.87m | 1:26PM1.07m | 1:30AM0.81m | 2:19PM1.03m | 2:26AM0.76m | 3:19PM1.01m | 3:33AM0.75m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:28PM0.02m | 4:47AM-0.02m | 5:19PM0.10m | 5:30AM0.05m | 6:10PM0.17m | 6:14AM0.11m | 7:04PM0.23m | 7:00AM0.18m | 8:00PM0.28m | 7:49AM0.23m | 8:57PM0.31m | 8:42AM0.27m | 9:54PM0.32m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — |
 | 7:54 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 27 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 33 | 31 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 34 | 32 |
Feels °C | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 29 | 35 | 34 | 29 | 32 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 32 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 36 | 33 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 4 | E 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SSE 4 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 5 | SE 5 | NE 6 |
| kJ | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 20 | 12 | 33 | 15 | 59 | 40 | 34 | 31 | 14 | 6 | 13 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 43 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | S 6 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 5 | ESE 7 | E 13 | ESE 9 | SSE 6 | — | — | — | E 6 | ESE 8 | E 6 | E 16 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 |
| kJ | 1 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 17 | 3 | 8 | 7 | — | — | — | 3 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 5 | E 7 | — | ESE 7 | — | — | SE 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 16 | E 6 | E 6 | SSE 5 |
| kJ | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 11 | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 4 | E 5 | E 5 | SE 4 | SSE 4 | WSW 3 | — | — | N 3 | N 3 | — | — | — | SSE 3 | — | SSE 4 | SE 5 | N 3 | NE 5 | — |
| kJ | 17 | 16 | 11 | 10 | 18 | 2 | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | 3 | — | 16 | 19 | 6 | 30 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2892 | 1129 | 927 | 927 | 299 | 14 | 78 | 137 | 176 | 106 | 137 | 137 | 1141 | 413 | 145 | 567 | 138 | 210 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Virginia | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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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