Croatan Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, I've run the numbers on Croatan and I'll be straight with you: it's looking flat and pretty bleak for the next couple of weeks. We've got a long dry spell on our hands, and there's hardly anything worth getting wet for. It's a waiting game, and I can't say I'm thrilled about it.

The water's at 80°F right now, which is about 1°F warmer than the usual for this time of year. Nothing crazy, just a standard touch of summer warmth.

The first real glimmer of hope shows up on the 27th of August. There's a little pulse of energy coming in, with the swell starting to build. We're talking a modest 2ft to 2ft of swell, but the period is up around 12-13 seconds, which is a good sign. That long-period groundswell has a bit more push behind it. It's still not big, but the energy readings are climbing into the triple digits – we're seeing 99 and then 118 on the 27th, which is the best we're going to get in this window. Both the morning and afternoon sessions have a light cross-onshore breeze, so it won't be perfect, but it'll be rideable on the longboards and funboards.

The swell is coming from the ESE, and this spot really likes that angle, so that's a plus. Croatan is a beach/jetty break, and with these longer periods, it might be a bit sectiony or close out in spots. Set your expectations low.

The 28th looks similar, with 2ft of ESE swell, but the wind swings to a cross-offshore in the morning, which will clean it right up. That Friday morning session could be your best bet – clean and just enough energy to get a few fun ones.

Then the 29th shows a bit more size, 3ft, but the wind picks up to a moderate cross-onshore, which is going to make it choppy. The energy is up (113), but the quality will suffer under that breeze. Could get messy.

So, where's the call? The standout is the 27th, with that longer-period swell and some (admittedly weak) energy. It's the most promising we've got. The morning of the 28th is a solid backup if you want cleaner waves, but you're trading a little size for it. For this size, it's all beginner-friendly. If we were talking over 5ft, that'd be a different story, but we're nowhere near that.

Between now and the 27th, there's a solid gap of nearly two weeks with nothing worth paddling for. If you're desperate, the 17th and the 23rd have a light offshore wind, but the swell is basically non-existent. You'd be fighting for dribbles.

Stay patient, keep your board waxed, and maybe check back closer to the 27th. Forecasts are always changing, and this one's a long way out, so don't go booking it off work just yet.

Rusty.

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