Croatan Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.79° N 75.96° W

Croatan Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 01 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Croatan sea temperature is
26.0°C
1.1° 

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


Croatan surf forecast from 1 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 2 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 11s period, ESE swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 10s period, ESE swell with 88 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 2 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 11s 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 Wednesday (Sep 02) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 4s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Croatan in the next 16 days are 0.7m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) 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 1.1m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Wed 2nd Sep)1.5ft (0.5m) 11s
Best Surf 8AM (Wed 2nd Sep)1.5ft (0.5m) 11s
Most Powerful 2PM (Wed 2nd Sep)2.5ft (0.7m) 10s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks.

Well, I gotta be straight with you – this ain’t gonna be a run of epic waves. We’re looking at a long stretch of pretty ordinary conditions, with the first real chance of a surfable wave coming on Wednesday, September 2nd, and even then it’s nothing to write home about.

Croatan (beach/jetty) is our only spot on the menu. The water temp is sitting at 79°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you won’t need a thick wetsuit.

Let’s start with Tuesday, September 1st. The morning is clear with a light cross-offshore breeze, but the swell is tiny at 1 ft from the SE with a weak period of 7 seconds. The combined energy is a measly 19, so it’s just not doing anything. The afternoon gets worse with a cross-onshore wind choppin’ it up. Not a day to bother.

Wednesday, September 2nd morning is your best bet in the whole outlook. It’s clean with a light offshore wind from the W, and we’ve got a tiny 2 ft swell from the ESE with an 11-second period. That longer period gives it a bit of shape, but at this size, it’s still only for the beginner crew or the longboarders. The combined energy is only 68, so it’s weak. The afternoon turns onshore and messy, so get it while you can.

Thursday, September 3rd morning has a gentle offshore wind again, but the swell drops to 2 ft and the period shortens to 9 seconds. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. The afternoon is onshore and no good.

From Friday, September 4th all the way through to Tuesday, September 15th, it’s a real dry spell. The swell is tiny, the wind is mostly onshore or cross-shore, and the forecasts are all showing “poor surf conditions.” We’re talking about a gap of nearly two weeks with nothing worth paddling out for. The combined energy values are mostly in the teens, with a few days in the 20s and 30s – that’s basically flat.

The only slight blip is on Wednesday, September 9th, when the swell bumps up to 4 ft from the NE, but the period is a short 6 seconds and the wind is a cross-onshore breeze at 16 mph. The combined energy hits 116, which is moderate, but the onshore wind makes it choppy and messy. Not a standout.

Later on, Wednesday, September 16th afternoon shows a 4 ft swell from the S, but again, period is short at 5 seconds and the wind is cross-onshore. It’s still a “poor surf conditions” call.

So, the standout – if you can call it that – is the morning of Wednesday, September 2nd. It’s the only time we get a clean offshore wind and a longer period, even if the size is tiny. For the rest of it, you’re better off checkin’ the forecast again in a week. This kind of flat run is normal for this area, so don’t stress too much. Forecasts can change.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 33°C on Thu afternoon, min 24°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Fri night. Warm (max 34°C on Fri afternoon, min 23°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
Sunday
6
Monday
7
AM
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
1
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
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)
0.4
SE
7
0.2
ESE
13
0.4
ESE
12
0.5
ESE
11
0.7
ESE
10
0.5
ESE
9
0.5
ESE
9
0.4
ESE
9
0.8
SSE
5
0.3
ESE
8
0.4
SE
8
0.3
ESE
8
0.2
ESE
8
0.2
ESE
8
0.2
ESE
8
0.6
NE
3
0.4
NE
5
0.2
ESE
9
0.3
NE
6
0.4
NE
7
0.2
ENE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
12
17
46
64
85
47
45
30
30
13
17
13
6
7
6
7
8
8
7
14
7
Wind (km/h)
5
SW
20
SSE
20
SW
5
W
15
E
20
SW
15
WSW
15
E
20
WSW
15
W
15
E
15
W
10
N
10
NE
5
SW
15
ENE
20
ENE
15
ENE
20
ENE
15
E
10
S
Wind State
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
off
on
cross-off
off
on
off
off
on
off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
on
cross-on
on
on
on
cross
High Tide
11:16AM1.23m
11:34PM1.02m
12:04PM1.23m
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
Low Tide
5:38PM0.14m
5:40AM0.06m
6:35PM0.17m
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
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
thunderstorm
clear
clear
thunderstorm
part cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:33
6:35
6:35
6:35
6:37
6:37
6:39
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:31
7:30
7:29
7:28
7:25
7:24
7:23
 mm
2
11
4
2
2
Temp °C
29
31
29
30
31
28
30
33
33
30
34
25
26
26
25
25
25
25
24
25
24
Feels °C
32
33
30
33
33
31
32
36
35
32
37
28
28
27
28
27
25
25
24
25
25
  • 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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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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