Croatan Surf Break

Lat Long: 36.79° N 75.96° W

Croatan Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 pm 24 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Croatan sea temperature is
26.5°C
1.0° 

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


Croatan surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 8s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s period, SE swell with 75 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 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 (Aug 27) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 4s 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 1.0m 6s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 5s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 8AM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Thu 27th Aug)1.5ft (0.5m) 8s
Best Surf 8AM (Thu 27th Aug)1.5ft (0.5m) 8s
Most Powerful 8PM (Thu 27th Aug)3.5ft (1.0m) 6s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s take a look at what the next couple of weeks have in store for us here. To be straight with you, this stretch starts off pretty quiet for Croatan.

The first week or so is a real slow burn. We’re looking at a long gap where the surf is just not happening – tiny scraps of swell up to maybe 2ft and wonky winds mean it’s pretty much flat to poor through the 24th all the way to the end of August. You’d be wasting your time paddling out. Combined energy readings are low, often in the 20s or 30s, which tells you there’s not much push.

There’s a glimmer on Thursday afternoon the 27th with a tiny 3ft SSE swell and a short 5 second period, but it’s got a light SSW breeze making it clean, and the energy is only 93. It’s surfable but very ordinary.

Things start to look more interesting as we head into the first week of September. There’s a proper pulse of energy building. On Monday the 1st of September, there’s some decent energy starting to show up, with a 2ft easterly swell with a 14 second period and a combined energy of 126 (moderate wave energy) in the afternoon, though it’s cross-on shore. The next day, Wednesday morning the 2nd, has a clean 2ft E swell with 12 seconds and a WSW offshore breeze in the afternoon – that’s a touch of hope.

But the real standout, the one to circle on your calendar, is the morning of Monday the 7th of September. We get cross-off winds from the SSW with a slight air, giving us clean conditions, and a solid 4ft easterly swell with an 8 second period. The combined energy is a solid 261, which is moderate. That’s the best-looking session in the whole run. For a beach/jetty setup like Croatan, having that cross-off wind is a score; it should offer some clean little lines.

Right before that, on Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th of September, there is a big lump of ENE swell pushing 8ft and 8ft, with strong energy readings over 900 (strong wave energy). However, it’s a short period windswell of 8-9 seconds with a fresh breeze, making it a messy, powerful beast. At that size and with that onshore component, it’s really only one for the experts and honestly might be more suited to a kite surfer than a paddle surfer. The water temp is sitting at 80°F, which is about 2°F warmer than average for this time of year – nice and warm for a late summer session.

So, to sum it up: you wait, you wait, and then that Monday morning on the 7th of September is your best bet for a clean, fun wave at Croatan.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 28°C on Mon afternoon, min 23°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Thu night. Warm (max 28°C on Thu afternoon, min 23°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Mon
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
ESE
12
0.3
ESE
11
0.3
ESE
11
0.4
SE
11
0.4
SE
11
0.3
ESE
9
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
9
0.5
E
8
0.9
SSE
5
0.8
SSE
6
0.7
S
5
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.5
SE
8
0.5
SE
8
0.6
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.5
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
26
23
22
29
29
17
24
26
35
44
40
24
23
22
31
31
48
26
36
21
Wind (km/h)
15
E
10
WSW
20
N
10
NNE
10
S
10
SE
20
SE
20
SSE
15
SSW
10
SSW
15
SSW
15
SW
20
SSW
15
WSW
15
NE
15
E
10
ESE
15
ESE
15
SSE
15
SW
Wind State
on
off
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
6:08PM1.08m
6:29AM0.89m
6:51PM1.12m
7:11AM0.96m
7:30PM1.15m
7:51AM1.03m
8:09PM1.17m
8:31AM1.09m
8:47PM1.17m
9:10AM1.15m
9:26PM1.15m
9:50AM1.19m
10:06PM1.12m
Low Tide
00:29AM0.22m
12:24PM0.20m
1:09AM0.16m
1:10PM0.16m
1:46AM0.11m
1:54PM0.12m
2:21AM0.06m
2:35PM0.09m
2:57AM0.03m
3:17PM0.08m
3:34AM0.02m
4:01PM0.09m
4:12AM0.02m
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
rain showers
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:28
6:28
6:30
6:31
6:31
6:31
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:44
7:42
7:40
7:38
7:37
7:37
7:35
 mm
2
2
2
4
1
1
3
1
Temp °C
28
26
24
27
25
27
27
26
27
28
24
23
27
26
26
26
25
26
27
27
Feels °C
28
27
22
25
24
27
25
25
29
29
25
23
27
27
27
27
26
28
28
29
  • 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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