
Surf Forecasts:
Croatan surf forecast from 20 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 23 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, ENE swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 24 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 11s period, ENE swell with 2,584 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 21 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 7s 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 Monday (Sep 21) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 11s. 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 3.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 24) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 26) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Mon 21st Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Wed 23rd Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Thu 24th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Croatan over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 27°C on Mon afternoon, min 22°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 32mm), heaviest during Wed afternoon. Warm (max 22°C on Wed morning, min 15°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Wed morning, strong winds from the NNE by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | Tuesday 22 | Wednesday 23 | Thursday 24 | Friday 25 | Saturday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | NE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 11 | ENE 12 | ENE 12 | ENE 12 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | N 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
159 | 130 | 79 | 51 | 58 | 58 | 40 | 69 | 655 | 1392 | 1224 | 1792 | 2551 | 2502 | 1869 | 1041 | 650 | 401 | 151 | 76 | 45 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 3:40PM1.00m | 4:08AM0.83m | 4:40PM1.03m | 5:08AM0.89m | 5:30PM1.07m | 5:56AM0.98m | 6:14PM1.11m | 6:38AM1.06m | 6:55PM1.15m | 7:18AM1.15m | 7:36PM1.17m | 7:58AM1.23m | 8:16PM1.18m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:07AM0.35m | 10:07PM0.34m | 10:06AM0.33m | 10:58PM0.30m | 11:03AM0.29m | 11:43PM0.23m | 11:55AM0.23m | 00:25AM0.16m | 12:43PM0.17m | 1:05AM0.10m | 1:28PM0.11m | 1:43AM0.05m | 2:11PM0.06m | 2:21AM0.01m | |||||||
6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | |
— | 7:04 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:59 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:55 | — | — | 6:54 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 26 | 26 | 25 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 24 | 23 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | NE 6 | NE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 12 | ENE 12 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 |
159 | 130 | 79 | 51 | 58 | 58 | 23 | 69 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1869 | 1041 | 650 | 401 | 151 | 76 | 45 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 11 | E 11 | ESE 8 | E 11 | E 10 | E 7 | ESE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 |
— | 2 | 2 | 21 | 9 | 2 | 40 | 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 11 | 10 | 10 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 11 | — | — | — | E 10 | E 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | 2 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSW 2 | — | — | NE 4 | — | — | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 11 | ENE 12 | — | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | N 5 |
— | — | 1 | — | — | 9 | — | — | 655 | 1392 | 1224 | 1792 | 2551 | 2502 | — | 31 | 25 | 9 | 31 | 38 | 45 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 242 | 242 | 0 | 0 | 1147 | 299 | 927 | 33 | 165 | 1664 | 2208 | 242 | 242 | 260 | 242 | 374 | 242 | 242 | 1245 | 1245 | 1146 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Virginia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










