Croatan Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.79° N 75.96° W

Croatan Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 pm 23 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Croatan sea temperature is
26.8° C
0.9° 

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


Croatan surf forecast from 23 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 27 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 6s period, ENE swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 7s period, SE swell with 65 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 27 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 6s period with ENE 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 Monday (Jul 27) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Croatan in the next 16 days are 0.8m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Mon 27th Jul)2ft (0.6m) 6s
Best Surf 2AM (Mon 27th Jul)2ft (0.6m) 6s
Most Powerful 5PM (Mon 27th Jul)2.5ft (0.8m) 7s

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 outlook is a tough one.

The overall pattern for the next 16 days is a real flat spell. There are no standouts, and I’m not even going to try and pretend there’s a session on the horizon worth getting excited about. We’re staring at a long stretch of tiny, weak swell and messy wind.

Let’s start with the first recommendation, which is Croatan. This is a beach/jetty setup, exposed to the swell. The water temp is sitting around 80°, which is basically spot on for this time of year – nothing unusual there.

The entire forecast period is a write-off. From Thursday the 23rd of July right through to Friday the 7th of August, every single session is rated as "poor surf conditions." The swell is tiny, never getting above 3 ft, and the periods are short – mostly between 4 and 8 seconds, meaning weak, choppy waves. The combined energy is weak, with values like 38, 56, and 104 (moderate) being the best on offer, but it’s all junk.

The wind is a mess too. Most of the time it’s cross-on or onshore, which just adds to the chop. There are a few windows of cleaner, cross-off winds on the 28th, 29th, and 31st of July, and even into the 2nd of August, but the swell is so small – 1 ft to 2 ft – that it’s barely rideable. You might get a knee-high dribbler on the morning of the 2nd of August, where the comment says "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions," but that’s scraping the barrel.

The bottom line is there’s nothing here. No standout, no big swell, no clean conditions. If you’re a kiter, this setup with light wind and small waves might be more interesting than for a surfer. For the rest of us, it’s a long, flat gap. Don’t hold your breath. Forecasts can change, but this one is looking grim.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 24°C on Sat morning, min 22°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 32°C on Tue afternoon, min 22°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Thu
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
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
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
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
8
0.4
SE
7
0.5
SE
8
0.8
ENE
5
0.5
SE
8
0.8
ENE
6
0.7
NE
6
0.5
ESE
8
0.5
ESE
8
0.6
NE
7
0.6
ENE
6
0.6
ENE
6
0.8
SE
7
1
S
4
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.5
SE
8
0.5
SE
7
0.5
SE
7
0.6
SE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
17
18
34
31
28
40
31
35
35
35
26
26
65
36
26
26
28
26
25
38
Wind (km/h)
15
ENE
15
ENE
15
ENE
15
ENE
10
ENE
15
NNE
10
NNE
10
NNE
15
NNE
10
NE
5
SW
10
SSE
25
SE
25
SSW
15
SW
20
SW
20
SW
15
NW
15
ENE
10
W
Wind State
cross-on
on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
glassy
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
on
off
High Tide
4:02PM1.02m
4:12AM0.72m
4:58PM1.03m
5:15AM0.73m
5:50PM1.05m
6:09AM0.76m
6:37PM1.08m
6:56AM0.81m
7:20PM1.10m
7:40AM0.86m
8:00PM1.12m
8:21AM0.91m
8:39PM1.13m
Low Tide
10:33PM0.25m
10:10AM0.20m
11:29PM0.24m
11:04AM0.20m
00:21AM0.21m
11:58AM0.18m
1:06AM0.17m
12:48PM0.16m
1:45AM0.13m
1:34PM0.13m
2:22AM0.09m
2:17PM0.11m
2:57AM0.06m
cloud
cloud
rain showers
part cloud
mod rain
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
clear
part cloud
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:01
6:03
6:03
6:05
6:05
6:05
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:17
8:16
8:15
8:15
8:15
8:14
8:13
 mm
1
6
6
12
11
Temp °C
23
23
23
23
23
24
24
23
23
25
23
26
27
26
29
32
25
28
30
24
Feels °C
22
22
22
22
24
24
24
24
22
25
24
28
27
26
31
32
27
30
32
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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