
Surf Forecasts:
Croatan surf forecast from 4 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 6 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 5s period, SSE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 11 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s period, SSE swell with 188 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 6 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 5s period with SSE 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 06) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Croatan in the next 16 days are 1.2m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 11) at 2AM. 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 5s period and expected on Friday (Jul 10) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Mon 6th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Mon 6th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sat 11th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Croatan over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at the coming weeks for our local stretch. Let's be straight with you – it's a quiet spell ahead. The first solid recommendation doesn't pop up until Tuesday July 7, so we've got a few days of flatness or junk to get through. After that, it's a long grind of small, ordinary waves with only a couple of windows that are worth getting damp for.
Water temp at Croatan sits right around 77°, which is bang on average for this time of year – no surprises there.
Tuesday July 7 morning is where we finally see something. Croatan will have a tiny 2ft swell shuffling in from the SSE (period 6 seconds). The real draw here is that offshore wind from the W at 9 mph, keeping things clean. The combined energy is a weak 57, so it's small and weak, but it's surfable. It's a beginner-friendly spot anyway, and with clean conditions, you could get a few little ones. Don't expect much though.
After that, Wednesday July 8 morning offers another small window with 1ft from the SSE and a cross-off breeze, giving us clean but tiny waves. The energy is even weaker at 40. Again, it's ordinary but doable.
Then we hit a gap. Nothing decent again until Monday July 13 rolls around. That morning, we see a bump in size: 4ft from the ENE with a 7-second period. The combined energy jumps to 181, which is moderate. Problem is the wind is cross-on from the SSE at only 3 mph, so it'll be lumpy. The waves are too small for it to be exciting, and the conditions aren't great. Tuesday July 14 morning cleans up with a NNW cross-off breeze at 6 mph and 3ft from the E (8 seconds, energy at 145). This is probably your best bet in the whole outlook – clean, small but rideable, and the moderate energy means there's a bit of push. Still, it's not a standout by any stretch.
The rest of the fortnight is a mix of tiny swells under 3ft, mostly with poor wind or choppy conditions. The last few days from Thursday July 16 onward get really weak, with combined energy dropping into the teens and thirties. Thursday July 16 afternoon goes glassy with 1ft from the ENE, but it's so small you'll be scratching for a ride. Friday July 17 afternoon has a 3ft southerly swell with offshore wind – again, clean but tiny.
Overall, this is a classic summer flat spell for the area. If you're desperate, hit Croatan on Tuesday July 14 morning for the cleanest, most consistent little waves in the period. Otherwise, wait for the forecasts to change – it won't stay this quiet forever.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Mon night. Warm (max 35°C on Sat afternoon, min 24°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 32mm), heaviest during Tue afternoon. Warm (max 32°C on Tue afternoon, min 23°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sat 4 | Sunday 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | S 4 | ESE 8 | SSE 4 | S 4 | ESE 9 | SSE 4 | S 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | S 6 | SE 8 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | S 4 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
15 | 18 | 14 | 31 | 26 | 16 | 32 | 52 | 33 | 57 | 68 | 19 | 36 | 25 | 18 | 23 | 31 | 40 | 31 | 188 | 53 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:39PM1.00m | 12:14PM0.95m | 00:22AM0.96m | 12:59PM1.00m | 1:08AM0.92m | 1:48PM1.05m | 2:00AM0.89m | 2:43PM1.10m | 3:00AM0.86m | 3:43PM1.15m | 4:05AM0.86m | 4:45PM1.21m | 5:10AM0.88m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:31PM0.17m | 6:00AM0.04m | 6:22PM0.18m | 6:43AM0.03m | 7:17PM0.18m | 7:29AM0.02m | 8:15PM0.16m | 8:19AM0.01m | 9:14PM0.13m | 9:12AM-0.01m | 10:16PM0.09m | 10:09AM-0.02m | 11:19PM0.05m | 11:09AM-0.05m | |||||||
— | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | |
8:25 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:23 | — | 8:23 | |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | — | 23 | 7 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 35 | 32 | 30 | 32 | 29 | 30 | 33 | 25 | 29 | 32 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 32 | 36 | 33 | 32 |
Feels °C | 36 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 34 | 26 | 31 | 35 | 26 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 31 | 34 | 32 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | SSE 7 | SE 9 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 |
15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 36 | 33 | 14 | 15 | 19 | 36 | 21 | 18 | 14 | 23 | 40 | 31 | 188 | 53 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | SE 8 | SSE 7 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | NE 6 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | 18 | 6 | 3 | 18 | 5 | 25 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 6 | E 10 | E 13 | ENE 5 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | NE 6 | E 10 | NE 6 | E 6 | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 3 | S 4 | S 4 | SSE 4 | S 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 4 | S 5 | — | SSE 6 | S 6 | W 3 | WSW 2 | — | — | SE 7 | S 4 | SSW 4 | S 4 | W 3 | N 4 |
9 | 18 | 9 | 31 | 26 | 12 | 32 | 52 | — | 57 | 68 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 23 | 31 | 17 | 9 | 2 | 14 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2837 | 175 | 1368 | 2865 | 186 | 1988 | 2310 | 95 | 0 | 137 | 16 | 0 | 106 | 137 | 175 | 416 | 406 | 0 | 217 | 0 | 0 |
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.











