Croatan Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.79° N 75.96° W

Croatan Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 pm 13 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Croatan sea temperature is
26.8° C
1.2° 

Croatan surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Croatan surf forecast from 14 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 8s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 20 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 8s period, SE swell with 151 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 8s 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 Sunday (Jul 19) at 2PM. 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 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 19) at 8AM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2PM (Sun 19th Jul)2.5ft (0.8m) 8s
Best Surf 2PM (Sun 19th Jul)2.5ft (0.8m) 8s
Most Powerful 2AM (Mon 20th Jul)3.5ft (1.1m) 8s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk Croatan over the next couple of weeks. I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – this stretch looks dead quiet. We’ve got days and days of tiny, weak energy, so don’t be grabbing your board expecting fireworks.

The first week and a half is basically a total loss for any proper surfing. From Tuesday 14th July right through to the middle of the following week, we’re looking at mostly poor surf conditions. Swell heights barely hit 3 feet, and the combined energy is weak, sitting well under 100 (like 70, 44, 27). The wind is all over the shop with onshores and cross-onshore breezes trashing whatever little bump there is. The odd glassy morning on Thursday 16th July won’t save you with just 1 foot on offer – that’s a pond, not a break.

There’s a long gap here where you’d be smarter to take a nap. It’s not until late in the second week that things look slightly less hopeless, but it’s still nothing to get stoked about.

Now, there’s one tiny window worth a look. Skip ahead to Friday 23rd July morning. Croatan will see a small ESE swell around 3 feet with a 6-second period. The combined energy climbs to 112 (moderate) and, importantly, we get a cross-offshore wind from the SW. That should keep the surface clean, even if the waves are weak and lack any punch. It’s rideable, but just barely. After that, it’s back into a stretch of poor conditions with bumpy seas and onshore winds sticking around right through the 29th.

To be honest, for a beginner, this entire 16-day window is a near-total blank. The swell stays well under 5 feet, so it’s not dangerous, but there’s nothing to catch. Croatan is usually a fairly consistent spot, so this run of flat, weak energy feels like a proper downer. Hang tough, the forecasts can always change.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 34°C on Thu afternoon, min 22°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 35°C on Sat afternoon, min 26°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Fri morning, fresh winds from the S by Sat night).

Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Mon
20
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
1
1
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)
1
E
6
0.8
E
6
0.5
E
6
0.3
ESE
9
0.3
ESE
9
0.4
ESE
8
0.3
ESE
8
0.3
ESE
8
0.3
ESE
8
0.8
S
4
0.2
ESE
8
0.2
ESE
8
0.4
NE
4
0.2
ESE
8
1.1
SSE
4
1.2
S
5
0.9
SSE
7
0.6
SE
8
1.1
SE
8
0.6
SE
8
0.5
SE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
76
41
17
15
15
22
12
11
11
25
6
7
6
6
44
83
74
48
151
54
32
Wind (km/h)
15
E
15
ENE
10
ESE
15
SW
10
WSW
10
S
20
SW
5
W
20
SSE
20
SW
10
NE
15
ENE
10
S
20
SSW
25
S
25
SW
20
WSW
5
SW
10
WSW
15
NNW
20
NE
Wind State
on
on
cross-on
cross-off
off
cross
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
on
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
High Tide
8:07AM1.02m
8:34PM1.34m
9:02AM1.07m
9:26PM1.30m
9:56AM1.10m
10:15PM1.24m
10:48AM1.11m
11:03PM1.16m
11:39AM1.11m
11:49PM1.06m
12:29PM1.10m
00:34AM0.96m
1:19PM1.08m
Low Tide
2:12AM-0.10m
2:07PM-0.14m
3:02AM-0.12m
3:02PM-0.13m
3:50AM-0.12m
3:56PM-0.09m
4:38AM-0.10m
4:50PM-0.03m
5:25AM-0.06m
5:46PM0.04m
6:11AM-0.02m
6:44PM0.11m
6:58AM0.03m
7:42PM0.17m
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:54
5:56
5:56
5:56
5:58
5:58
5:58
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:22
8:22
8:22
8:22
8:21
8:21
8:20
8:20
 mm
22
Temp °C
25
25
25
24
27
33
31
30
34
32
29
30
28
31
35
30
32
35
28
25
25
Feels °C
26
26
25
25
27
33
30
31
33
32
33
33
32
31
34
29
32
35
29
26
25
  • 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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