Surf Forecasts:
Croatan surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 18 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 5s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 22 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 8s period, SSE swell with 165 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 18 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 5s period with S 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 Saturday (Jul 18) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 5s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 9s 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 1.1m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 19) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 5s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 5s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Croatan over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s break it down in feet and miles.
This is a long, flat spell. The first real chance doesn’t come until Wednesday, July 22nd—that’s a big gap of a few days with nothing. After that, it’s mostly poor.
The best of it is Wednesday afternoon, the 22nd, at Croatan. Swell hits about 4ft from the SSE on a short 8-second period, and the wind goes offshore from the WNW, leaving it clean. The combined energy is 192 (moderate). Water temp is average for the time of year. Crowds are often around, so expect company. That’s your one real look.
Thursday the 23rd is cross-on and messy with 4ft to 5ft from the NE. Friday the 24th is bigger at 6ft from the ENE, but cross-on and choppy—more for kite surfers than paddle surfers. After that, it’s tiny and weak. A glassy morning on the 27th with 2ft, but barely any energy.
If you’re keen, nail that Wednesday afternoon. Otherwise, it’s a long wait.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 34°C on Sat afternoon, min 23°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Sat afternoon, calm by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Wed night. Warm (max 33°C on Tue afternoon, min 23°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon morning, fresh winds from the SSW by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSE 5 | E 13 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | E 4 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | S 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | E 4 | ESE 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 69 | 3 | 34 | 24 | 40 | 43 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 50 | 44 | 95 | 53 | 64 | 38 | 28 | 44 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | on | off | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:48AM1.11m | 11:03PM1.16m | 11:39AM1.11m | 11:49PM1.06m | 12:29PM1.10m | 00:34AM0.96m | 1:19PM1.08m | 1:21AM0.87m | 2:10PM1.05m | 2:11AM0.79m | 3:05PM1.03m | 3:08AM0.74m | 4:02PM1.02m | 4:12AM0.72m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:50PM-0.03m | 5:25AM-0.06m | 5:46PM0.04m | 6:11AM-0.02m | 6:44PM0.11m | 6:58AM0.03m | 7:42PM0.17m | 7:44AM0.09m | 8:39PM0.22m | 8:30AM0.13m | 9:36PM0.24m | 9:18AM0.17m | 10:33PM0.25m | ||||||||
 | |  | | |  |  | | | | |  | | | |  | | | | | | |
 | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — |
 | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:17 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 15 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 30 | 30 | 27 | 31 | 34 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 29 | 33 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
Feels °C | 33 | 30 | 28 | 33 | 34 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 28 | 27 | 32 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 4 | ESE 8 | NE 4 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 13 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 6 | E 4 | E 10 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 8 | ESE 6 |
| kJ | 2 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 34 | 24 | 40 | 43 | 25 | 3 | 10 | 2 | 41 | 95 | 53 | 64 | 38 | 1 | 44 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | — | ESE 8 | — | E 13 | E 9 | E 13 | S 4 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | SE 7 | SE 8 | — | ENE 4 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | SE 8 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | — |
| kJ | 6 | — | 6 | — | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 22 | — | 2 | 4 | 3 | 18 | 20 | 10 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 14 | E 14 | E 13 | E 9 | E 9 | — | E 13 | E 8 | E 10 | E 10 | E 12 | E 10 | E 10 | NE 6 | WSW 3 | ENE 6 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | — | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 3 | SSE 2 | S 3 | SSE 5 | S 6 | SW 4 | — | E 3 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | E 4 | — | ESE 8 | S 5 | — | N 4 | NE 3 | NE 5 | E 4 | NE 4 |
| kJ | — | 2 | 1 | 5 | 69 | 86 | 9 | — | 6 | 8 | 19 | 25 | — | 50 | 44 | — | 6 | 4 | 32 | 28 | 4 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1231 | 1239 | 1231 | 1132 | 1239 | 927 | 175 | 0 | 290 | 0 | 165 | 622 | 561 | 927 | 927 | 868 | 0 | 0 | 165 | 255 | 484 |
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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