Surf Forecasts:
Croatan surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 9s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 9s period, E swell with 59 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 9s period with E 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 4s 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 0.6m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 5s period and expected on Monday (Aug 31) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 9s |
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.
Honestly, it’s a pretty grim stretch for Croatan. We’re lookin’ at a whole lot of tiny, junky surf with not much to get excited about. The first real chance of anything decent is a long way off, so don’t hold your breath.
The entire first week and a half is a write-off. From Monday the 24th of August right through to the first week of September, it’s just ankle-biters and slop. Swell heights are barely pokin’ their head above 1 ft, with periods all over the shop, mostly short and weak. The combined energy readings are mostly in the 20s to 50s, pathetic. The wind is a constant problem too – cross, cross-on, and choppy conditions are the norm. There’s a few mornings with clean conditions, but there’s just no swell to work with. It’s a real bummer for such a nice stretch of coast.
The first glimmer of hope comes on Monday the 31st of August. Monday afternoon we’ve got a glassy session with a 1 ft swell from the ESE, but the period jumps to 18 seconds – that’s a long-period groundswell, and the energy bumps up to 117 (moderate). It’s surfable, but very ordinary. The real pulse of energy shows up on Tuesday the 1st of September afternoon. The swell jumps to 4 ft from the ENE, period at 14 seconds, and the combined energy hits 558 (strong). But the wind is a cross-on from the NNE at 9 mph, which will mess up the face. It’s a marginal call.
Then again, on Thursday the 3rd of September morning, we get a clean session with a 4 ft ESE swell, period 14 seconds, and energy cranked up to 551 (strong). The wind is cross-off from the NNW at 19 mph – that’s fresh, but it’ll hold the wave open. That’s your best bet for the whole period, but it’s still a little lumpy under that breeze.
The best of the whole outlook comes on Friday the 4th of September. Friday morning at Croatan is glassy. Flat calm. The swell is 2 ft from the E, period 12 seconds, and the energy is 213 (moderate). The conditions are expect good surf conditions. That’s the standout. It’s not huge, but it’ll be clean, lined up, and with those long-period lines, it’ll be a whole lotta fun for a beginner-friendly beach/jetty like this. No crowds mentioned, but it’s fairly consistent, so there’ll be a few heads out.
After that, it fades off again. Saturday the 5th of September morning has a 5 ft ESE swell, but the period drops to a shocking 5 seconds – that’s windswell, messy and short. The energy is only 138 (moderate). It’s too big for beginners at that size, and with that short period, it’ll be a washing machine. Only for the keen.
So, to wrap it up: if you’re itching for a paddle, the Thursday 3rd September morning and Friday 4th September morning are the ones to circle. Friday is the real gem – glassy, clean, and a little pulse of groundswell.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 28°C on Mon afternoon, min 23°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 28mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 30°C on Sat afternoon, min 22°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 4 | E 8 | E 9 | SSE 5 | E 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | S 4 | S 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
27 | 26 | 23 | 22 | 29 | 29 | 17 | 24 | 21 | 36 | 43 | 29 | 36 | 34 | 22 | 13 | 25 | 24 | 32 | 13 | 35 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:08PM1.08m | 6:29AM0.89m | 6:51PM1.12m | 7:11AM0.96m | 7:30PM1.15m | 7:51AM1.03m | 8:09PM1.17m | 8:31AM1.09m | 8:47PM1.17m | 9:10AM1.15m | 9:26PM1.15m | 9:50AM1.19m | 10:06PM1.12m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:32AM0.24m | 00:29AM0.22m | 12:24PM0.20m | 1:09AM0.16m | 1:10PM0.16m | 1:46AM0.11m | 1:54PM0.12m | 2:21AM0.06m | 2:35PM0.09m | 2:57AM0.03m | 3:17PM0.08m | 3:34AM0.02m | 4:01PM0.09m | 4:12AM0.02m | |||||||
6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | |
— | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 7 | 2 | — | — | 5 | — | — | 11 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 28 | 27 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 29 | 27 | 26 | 30 | 26 | 27 | 33 | 30 |
Feels °C | 26 | 28 | 27 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 29 | 32 | 29 | 29 | 32 | 27 | 29 | 34 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | NNE 4 | SE 11 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | E 9 | SE 4 | E 9 | SSE 5 | E 8 | E 8 | SSE 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 |
27 | 26 | 23 | 22 | 13 | 29 | 17 | 24 | 15 | 9 | 43 | 29 | 36 | 34 | 10 | 13 | 25 | 24 | 32 | 13 | 11 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 5 | E 7 | — | E 7 | SE 11 | NE 4 | — | E 15 | E 14 | E 8 | E 12 | ESE 9 | SSE 5 | E 11 | ESE 8 | SE 5 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 19 |
2 | 1 | — | 1 | 29 | 3 | — | 4 | 4 | 36 | 3 | 26 | 10 | 9 | 22 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | NE 5 | — | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 13 | E 8 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | — | — | — | — | E 9 |
1 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 5 | S 3 | NNE 4 | — | — | — | SE 3 | SE 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 4 | WSW 3 | S 5 | SSE 7 | — | — | — | S 3 | WSW 3 | S 4 | S 5 |
— | 3 | 3 | 11 | — | — | — | 6 | 21 | 8 | 29 | 4 | 12 | 25 | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 13 | 35 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 138 | 175 | 138 | 138 | 178 | 484 | 484 | 1132 | 418 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 283 | 137 | 78 | 1231 | 175 | 418 | 411 | 175 |
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.











