Surf Forecasts:
Croatan surf forecast from 14 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 17 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 8s period, E swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 15 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 8s period, ENE swell with 143 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 17 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 8s 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 (Sep 17) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Croatan in the next 16 days are 1.1m 8s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Monday (Sep 14) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Tue 15th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Croatan over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, truth be told, the next week is looking pretty grim. We’ve got a long dry spell with barely a ripple from now until around the 22nd. Water temp is 27°, so it’s warm, but that’s about all we’ve got going.
The 22nd morning shows a slight pulse—1.3m from the east-southeast, clean with a light offshore. Croatan (Virginia) is the call, but it’s inconsistent and the period is only 8 seconds, so nothing special. Moderate energy (205) but still short-period.
Now, the standout is the 25th. Swell builds to 1.8m out of the northeast, and the afternoon goes glassy. That’s the cleanest, funnest surf of the whole forecast. Energy is strong (294), but the period is short at 6 seconds, so it might be a bit walled-up at the beach. Still, with no wind, it’s the best you’re getting.
After that, the 26th brings rain and strong winds, and it all falls apart. The 27th and beyond are just small, chopped-up leftovers. So, if you can only get out once, make it the 25th.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Mon morning, min 21°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the N on Mon morning, calm by Wed night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Fri afternoon, min 21°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | NNE 5 | NE 5 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 6 | E 12 | E 12 | E 8 | ESE 11 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 31 | 48 | 74 | 77 | 71 | 143 | 89 | 104 | 72 | 80 | 76 | 50 | 34 | 23 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 39 | 13 | 15 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | off | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:33AM1.25m | 10:43PM1.02m | 11:15AM1.20m | 11:24PM0.95m | 11:58AM1.14m | 00:08AM0.88m | 12:44PM1.08m | 00:56AM0.83m | 1:36PM1.03m | 1:51AM0.80m | 2:35PM1.00m | 2:57AM0.80m | 3:40PM1.00m | 4:08AM0.83m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:48PM0.15m | 4:49AM0.12m | 5:35PM0.22m | 5:31AM0.20m | 6:25PM0.28m | 6:18AM0.27m | 7:18PM0.33m | 7:10AM0.32m | 8:15PM0.36m | 8:07AM0.35m | 9:12PM0.36m | 9:07AM0.35m | 10:07PM0.34m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — |
 | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:12 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:04 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 30 | 34 | 32 |
Feels °C | 28 | 23 | 22 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 30 | 34 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 10 | E 14 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 6 | E 6 | E 12 | E 8 | ESE 11 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 |
| kJ | 31 | 31 | 15 | 16 | 2 | 4 | 89 | 104 | 72 | 80 | 76 | 50 | 34 | 23 | 13 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 39 | 13 | 15 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 6 | — | E 15 | E 15 | E 15 | — | E 14 | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 13 | E 12 | ESE 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 7 | E 11 | S 4 | E 11 | E 7 |
| kJ | 6 | — | 4 | 4 | 4 | — | 4 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 4 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | E 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 9 | SE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ENE 6 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 3 | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 4 | NNE 5 | NE 5 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 3 | S 3 | SSW 3 | SSE 3 | SSW 4 | SW 3 | S 4 | SSE 4 |
| kJ | 26 | 48 | 74 | 77 | 71 | 143 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 8 | 1 | 10 | 20 | 3 | 3 | 11 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 176 | 572 | 852 | 481 | 481 | 385 | 317 | 1132 | 210 | 210 | 1132 | 0 | 0 | 1214 | 78 | 1137 | 2009 | 1368 | 0 | 137 | 745 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Virginia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Croatan surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
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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