Surf Forecasts:
K.O.A surf forecast from 2 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 8 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 10s period, ENE swell with 248 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 4 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period with ESE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for K.O.A this week:
The surf forecast for K.O.A over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at K.O.A in the next 16 days are 1.2m 10s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Friday (Sep 04) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for K.O.A over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's break it down for K.O.A. Honestly, it's a tough stretch ahead. The models are showing a long, dry spell with hardly any surf worth getting wet for. From Wednesday the 2nd all the way through Monday the 14th, it's flat, messy, and just no good. The swell is tiny, the wind is wrong, and the energy is weak. It's going to be a real test of patience.
The first real glimmer of hope comes on Wednesday the 16th. That morning, a 4ft swell from the NE shows up, but it's a short-period, 5-second wave, with weak energy (107). The wind is offshore from the W, so it'll be clean, but the wave comment says it's "surfable but very ordinary." I wouldn't get too worked up.
The one true highlight is Wednesday afternoon on the 16th. The wind goes glassy, and the swell nudges up to 4ft from the NE. The period is still short at 6 seconds, but that glassy surface will make the little peaks at K.O.A. as clean as they've been in weeks. The combined energy is a modest 172, but for this spot, in this stretch, that's the best you're going to get. It's a solid intermediate wave at that size, and with no crowds, you'll have it all to yourself. The water temp is 28° with a 1.0° anomaly – so it's just a touch warmer than normal for this time of year.
Don't get your hopes up for Thursday the 17th. The swell jumps to 5ft-5ft from the ENE, but it's onshore, choppy, and messy. The energy is strong (227-259), but the quality is poor. That's more of a kite-surfing wind than a paddle wave. Nothing else is on the radar after that.
So, here's the call: your only real window is Wednesday afternoon, the 16th of September. The morning might be okay, but that afternoon glass-off is your best shot. It's a long wait, but it's all we've got.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Fri night. Warm (max 28°C on Wed afternoon, min 24°C on Fri night). Mainly strong winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 39mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 27°C on Sat afternoon, min 23°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat afternoon, fresh winds from the NE by Sun night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | ||||||||||||||
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 10 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | NE 5 | SE 9 | NE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 164 | 106 | 95 | 65 | 46 | 32 | 26 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 28 | 29 | 34 | 104 | 153 | 161 | 248 | 142 | 133 | 70 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:44PM0.25m | 2:24AM0.28m | 3:32PM0.25m | 3:14AM0.27m | 4:26PM0.25m | 4:14AM0.26m | 5:30PM0.25m | 5:27AM0.25m | 6:46PM0.25m | 6:54AM0.25m | 8:01PM0.26m | 8:12AM0.25m | 9:08PM0.27m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:16PM0.16m | 9:09AM0.13m | 9:01PM0.16m | 9:53AM0.13m | 9:50PM0.16m | 10:48AM0.14m | 10:44PM0.16m | 12:06PM0.15m | 11:45PM0.17m | 2:16PM0.15m | 3:14AM0.18m | 3:27PM0.14m | 4:29AM0.17m | |||||||
 |  | | |  | | |  | |  | | | |  |  | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — |
 | 7:28 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:21 | — | — | 7:19 | — |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | — | 1 | 36 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 25 |
Feels °C | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 31 | 29 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | NE 5 | NE 6 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 |
| kJ | 164 | 106 | 95 | 65 | 46 | 32 | 26 | 43 | 16 | 9 | 28 | 29 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 161 | 248 | 142 | 133 | 70 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NNE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 9 | ENE 8 | S 5 | S 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 4 | SE 9 | SE 4 |
| kJ | — | — | 4 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 21 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 17 | 6 | 20 | 7 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | NW 4 | — | E 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | S 5 | S 5 | SSW 5 | — | — | — | S 5 | SE 8 | — | ESE 10 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | 18 | — | 9 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 3 | SW 3 | SSW 3 | SSW 4 | SW 4 | SSW 4 | WSW 5 | NW 3 | N 4 | — | E 3 | NE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | — | SE 4 | — | SE 4 | SSW 3 |
| kJ | — | 4 | 4 | 7 | 34 | 16 | 34 | 33 | 2 | 7 | — | 2 | 34 | 104 | 153 | — | 6 | — | 5 | 7 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 26 | 68 | 39 | 68 | 0 | 264 | 472 | 581 | 1969 | 2161 | 579 | 141 | 642 | 344 | 392 | 350 | 141 | 68 | 21 | 714 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the K.O.A Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for K.O.A provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at K.O.A can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our K.O.A 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 (K.O.A) 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 K.O.A 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.
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