Croatan Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.79° N 75.96° W

Croatan Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 pm 09 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Croatan sea temperature is
26.3° 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 10 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 10 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 6s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 13 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period, E swell with 153 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 10 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 6s 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 Friday (Jul 10) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Croatan in the next 16 days are 1.4m 6s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 13) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 11) at 8AM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Fri 10th Jul)1.5ft (0.5m) 6s
Best Surf 5AM (Fri 10th Jul)1.5ft (0.5m) 6s
Most Powerful 2AM (Mon 13th Jul)4.5ft (1.4m) 6s

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


Alright, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you. It’s a tough stretch on the calendar for surf around Croatan. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty flat and mostly blown out. We’re staring down a long, quiet run with only a glimmer of something rideable coming through, and it’s a long way off.

For the first several days, starting now through the middle of next week, there’s basically nothing worth paddling out for. The swell is tiny, mostly under 1.6 feet, and the energy is weak. The wind is all over the place, often onshore or cross-onshore, leaving the water choppy and messy. Even when the wind is offshore, there just isn’t enough swell to push a wave. It’s a real flat spell.

We finally get a bit of a pulse around the 21st of July. That Tuesday morning, a small bump of swell from the south pushes up to about 5.2 feet, but the period is a very short 5 seconds, so it’s disorganized and weak in shape. The energy climbs to moderate. The wind goes light offshore and glassy, which is a big positive. The waves are surfable, but it’s not going to be a standout session. The afternoon stays clean with a light cross-off breeze and 4.9 feet of swell, but again, it’s short period slop. Nothing special.

The best chance for a proper surf comes on the morning of Wednesday the 22nd of July. The swell drops back to about 3 feet from the southeast, but the wind goes completely calm, glassy. The period is 7 seconds, so it’s not a long groundswell, but the absolute lack of wind will make it look better than it is. The energy is weak. For a beginner break like Croatan, this is about as good as it gets in a dead patch – small, clean, and forgiving. But it’s not a standout.

After that, the wind picks up again and the swell fades. The rest of the week into the 25th is back to poor conditions, small and choppy or blown out with strong cross-off winds. That last day, the 25th, has a fresh breeze at 19 mph, which is kite-surfing weather, not paddle surfing.

Overall, the water temp is about average for the time of year, so no worries there.

Look, it’s a quiet period. The only real light in the tunnel is the glassy morning on the 22nd of July. That’s your best bet, but keep your expectations low. It’s a long wait for tiny, clean waves.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 32°C on Fri afternoon, min 23°C on Sun afternoon). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 22°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thu
16
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
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
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
NE
7
0.4
SE
7
0.2
ESE
9
0.2
ESE
9
0.3
SSE
8
0.2
ESE
9
0.2
ESE
9
1.3
ENE
5
1.5
ENE
6
1.4
E
6
1.2
E
7
1.1
E
7
0.8
E
6
0.7
E
6
0.8
ESE
7
0.6
E
7
0.4
E
7
0.9
SE
4
0.8
S
4
0.5
SSE
5
0.8
SSE
4
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
15
14
7
8
12
7
8
77
135
153
142
113
52
33
73
38
15
21
21
15
19
Wind (km/h)
15
WSW
10
WNW
15
SE
15
WSW
15
W
5
SSW
5
NW
20
NE
20
ENE
25
E
25
E
15
E
10
E
10
ENE
10
SSE
15
S
10
SSW
20
SSE
20
SW
15
WSW
20
SSE
Wind State
cross-off
off
cross-on
cross-off
off
glassy
glassy
cross-on
on
on
on
on
on
on
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
High Tide
4:05AM0.86m
4:45PM1.21m
5:10AM0.88m
5:46PM1.27m
6:12AM0.92m
6:44PM1.32m
7:11AM0.97m
7:40PM1.34m
8:07AM1.02m
8:34PM1.34m
9:02AM1.07m
9:26PM1.30m
9:56AM1.10m
Low Tide
10:16PM0.09m
10:09AM-0.02m
11:19PM0.05m
11:09AM-0.05m
00:21AM-0.00m
12:10PM-0.09m
1:19AM-0.05m
1:10PM-0.12m
2:12AM-0.10m
2:07PM-0.14m
3:02AM-0.12m
3:02PM-0.13m
3:50AM-0.12m
3:56PM-0.09m
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
light rain
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
mod rain
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:52
5:52
5:54
5:54
5:54
5:56
5:56
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:24
8:23
8:23
8:23
8:22
8:22
8:22
8:22
 mm
1
3
4
6
Temp °C
30
30
32
30
28
31
27
24
25
24
24
24
24
24
25
24
26
29
27
30
33
Feels °C
34
31
34
30
29
33
28
25
25
22
22
22
25
24
25
25
28
28
26
32
36
  • 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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