Croatan Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.79° N 75.96° W

Croatan Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 08 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Croatan sea temperature is
26.5° C
0.7° 

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


Croatan surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s period, SE swell with 66 kJ wave energy.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Croatan this week:

The most powerful waves expected at Croatan in the next 16 days are 0.7m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 8AM. 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 4s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 8AM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful 8AM (Sat 8th Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 8s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, this is Rusty, your local surf reporter, with a look at what's coming up for the Croatan area.

Honestly, folks, I'm staring at a pretty bleak forecast for the next couple of weeks. The swell is just tiny, the wind is all over the place, and the combined energy levels are laughable. We're looking at a long stretch of poor surf, with nothing really worth paddling out for until the very end of the window. There's a big gap here with no real recommendations, so don't get your hopes up for the next week or so.

Let's start with this weekend. Saturday morning, August 8th, we've got a weak 2ft swell from the SE with a short period of 8 seconds and a combined energy of just 55. The wind is a cross-off from the SW at 12 mph, which at least keeps the surface clean, but the waves are just too small to do anything with. It's a beginner-friendly spot, but even for them, it's a total washout. This flat, weak pattern continues through the week with waves barely pushing 2ft. Monday morning, August 10th, we get a brief moment of glassy conditions with the wind dropping to 3 mph from the S, but the swell is a pathetic 2ft with a 6-second period. It's clean, but it's just not surf.

We're looking at a solid ten days of this. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, nothing special, but you won't even be in the water to notice.

Now, the only faint glimmer of hope comes way out in the second week. Around Wednesday, August 19th, we start to see a bit more energy. The combined energy climbs to 177 on Wednesday morning, but it's still a cross-on wind from the SSE at 9 mph, making it choppy. The swell is a bit better at 2ft from the ESE with a 13-second period, which is a longer period groundswell, but it's hitting a beach/jetty setup, so it might be a bit too straight for a good wall. This is a long-range forecast, so it's promising but not certain.

The best shot, if you can call it that, looks like Thursday afternoon, August 20th. The combined energy drops to 79, but the wind switches to a clean cross-off from the SSW at 9 mph. The waves are 2ft from the ESE with a 10-second period. The report even calls it "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions." It's not a standout, but it's the only thing on the board that's not a complete zero. Don't expect much.

The very end of the forecast, Saturday, August 22nd, shows a jump in energy to 274 with a 3ft swell from the ESE, but the wind is onshore from the ESE at 9 mph, making it unknown conditions. It's still a long way off. For now, leave the board in the car and go for a swim.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Warm (max 33°C on Sun afternoon, min 24°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Wed night. Warm (max 32°C on Tue afternoon, min 23°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
8
Sunday
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
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
0
0
0
0
0
0
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)
0.7
SE
8
0.5
SE
8
0.9
S
5
0.4
SE
7
0.4
SE
7
0.8
S
5
0.5
SE
6
0.4
SE
6
0.6
SSE
4
0.3
SSE
6
0.4
S
3
0.7
S
4
0.3
SSE
5
0.2
ESE
8
0.2
ESE
8
0.3
SE
8
0.3
SE
8
0.3
SE
8
0.4
SSE
5
0.4
SSE
8
0.4
SE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
64
30
40
13
17
28
19
9
16
7
2
17
6
7
6
10
10
11
8
22
15
Wind (km/h)
20
SW
20
SW
20
SW
15
WSW
10
S
15
SW
15
SW
5
E
15
WSW
5
SSW
10
SSE
10
SE
15
NW
10
SSW
10
WSW
5
NNW
15
SE
15
SSW
15
W
10
ENE
5
WNW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
on
off
glassy
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
off
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
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
8:44AM1.17m
9:05PM1.27m
9:33AM1.21m
9:50PM1.21m
Low Tide
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
2:48PM-0.08m
3:23AM-0.08m
3:38PM-0.04m
4:05AM-0.06m
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
thunderstorm
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:13
6:15
6:16
6:16
6:18
6:18
6:18
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:02
8:01
8:00
8:00
7:59
7:57
7:55
 mm
3
1
11
1
5
Temp °C
29
32
31
29
33
29
26
30
29
28
32
32
29
32
26
27
29
26
31
33
28
Feels °C
31
32
31
30
35
29
28
33
32
32
34
34
30
34
27
30
31
27
32
35
31
  • 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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