Surf Forecasts:
Croatan surf forecast from 6 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 5s period, SSE swell with 58 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Croatan this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Croatan in the next 16 days are 1.0m 5s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 08) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sat 8th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Croatan over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's be honest, the next couple of weeks are looking pretty darn flat. We're in for a long spell of small, weak and messy surf. The swell energy is just not there, and for the most part, you're looking at knee-to-waist high slop with a lot of cross-shore wind messing it up.
The first week and a half is essentially a wash. We're looking at a solid gap with nothing worth paddling out for. From Thursday the 6th all the way through to the middle of next week, the wave heights are tiny, only 0.7ft to 2ft, and the period is super short. That's just wind chop and bump. The energy readings are mostly low, in the teens and twenties, which is barely a pulse. You'd be fighting for a close-out on a longboard.
Then, there's a little pulse from the NE around Saturday the 15th. It's still small, around 2ft, but the period bumps up slightly. But that's about it – it's still not surfable. The wind is mostly cross-on or onshore, so it'll be lumpy and messy.
Finally, we get a slight uptick in energy around Tuesday the 19th of August. The swell drops a bit but the energy readings get a little higher, into the 40s and 50s. It's still small, only around 2ft, but with a little more push. The wind on Tuesday afternoon is actually light and offshore, which will make it clean. By the look of it, that's the first and only real window of opportunity – Tuesday afternoon at Croatan (Virginia) might actually offer a few clean, small waves. It's not going to be epic, but at least it won't be a complete washing machine.
The conditions will be ordinary, but if you're desperate for a splash, that's your spot. It won't be for beginners, as the waves will still be weak, but the clean conditions will make it look better than it is.
Remember, the water temp is a bit warmer than usual for this time of year, so you can probably get away with a thinner suit.
The second week is still a bit of a question mark. The energy is projected to be moderate, but the swell direction is not ideal. It's a long way out, so we can't be too sure. Keep your eyes on the forecast, because it could change, but for now, don't clear your schedule.
This is just how it goes sometimes. The ocean will come back around. Stay patient.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 34°C on Sat afternoon, min 24°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 33°C on Mon afternoon, min 23°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 4 | S 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 4 | S 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSE 5 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 4 | S 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SE 6 | SE 4 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 18 | 28 | 26 | 17 | 40 | 44 | 24 | 33 | 13 | 17 | 24 | 12 | 19 | 33 | 11 | 11 | 18 | 5 | 7 | 7 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | cross-on | off | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:16PM1.16m | 2:36AM0.87m | 3:20PM1.18m | 3:44AM0.87m | 4:28PM1.21m | 4:54AM0.91m | 5:33PM1.25m | 5:59AM0.97m | 6:33PM1.29m | 6:57AM1.05m | 7:27PM1.31m | 7:52AM1.12m | 8:17PM1.30m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:54PM0.16m | 8:48AM0.05m | 9:58PM0.15m | 9:50AM0.03m | 11:03PM0.12m | 10:55AM0.01m | 00:05AM0.07m | 11:59AM-0.03m | 1:02AM0.01m | 12:59PM-0.07m | 1:52AM-0.04m | 1:56PM-0.09m | 2:39AM-0.07m | |||||||
 |  | | | |  | | | | |  | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | 8:05 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 32 | 31 | 29 | 33 | 30 | 29 | 34 | 32 | 29 | 32 | 29 | 29 | 33 | 29 | 28 | 32 | 30 | 28 | 34 | 27 |
Feels °C | 32 | 33 | 31 | 33 | 31 | 29 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 33 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 29 | 30 | 35 | 33 | 30 | 35 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | SE 6 | SSE 6 | E 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SE 7 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | E 10 | E 9 | SSE 6 | E 9 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | ESE 8 | SE 4 |
| kJ | 2 | 10 | 26 | 2 | 28 | 44 | 24 | 33 | 8 | 17 | 24 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 2 | 18 | 5 | 7 | 5 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 11 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | E 9 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 9 | E 8 | SE 8 | SSE 6 | E 8 | ESE 8 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 21 | 13 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 7 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 8 | E 9 | E 11 | E 9 | E 10 | — | — | E 8 | E 12 | E 8 | SE 8 | E 11 | E 7 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 4 | S 5 | WSW 3 | SSE 4 | S 5 | SSW 4 | S 4 | SW 3 | WSW 3 | SSW 3 | WSW 3 | — | SSE 4 | S 5 | W 3 | SSE 6 | SW 3 | — | SE 6 | NNE 3 |
| kJ | 18 | 28 | 1 | 17 | 40 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | 19 | 33 | 1 | 11 | 2 | — | 5 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1242 | 386 | 228 | 413 | 137 | 0 | 217 | 0 | 137 | 197 | 175 | 878 | 1239 | 852 | 294 | 228 | 176 | 138 | 1231 | 165 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Virginia | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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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