Kitty Hawk Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s on the table for the next stretch at Kitty Hawk Pier.

Honestly, I’m a bit gutted to say it, but this is a pretty flat and quiet run for the Outer Banks. We’ve got a massive gap with no real surf on offer. The first bit of hope doesn’t show up until Tuesday, the 18th of August, and even then it’s barely a whisper. From now until then, the swell is tiny – we’re talking ankle-snappers at best, with a combined energy of only 14 to 43 (weak energy), so it’s a total washout. The wind is mostly cross or onshore, which just makes it look messy. You’d be better off with a cold one on the beach.

Now, let’s talk about the standout session, and it’s a long way off. Tuesday, the 18th of August offers the only real flicker of life. The morning is glassy – dead calm, with a light wind from the west, and the water is a balmy 82°F, which is about normal for the time of year. The swell is tiny, only 1 ft from the ESE, but the period is a solid 9 seconds. That’s a little pulse of groundswell. The energy is still weak at 41, and the waves are surfable but very ordinary. It’s a glassy session, so you’ll catch a few peelers, but don’t expect much.

The afternoon of the 18th gets a bit weird. The wind swings to a light cross-offshore from the SSW, and the swell actually lifts to 3 ft from the north, with a short, choppy period of 5 seconds. The energy bumps up to 89 (weak). It’s clean, but it’s a jumbled, close-out windswell. It’s surfable, but it’s not pretty.

Later in the week, on Wednesday, the 19th of August, we see a spike in energy. The morning brings a 2 ft swell from the east at 13 seconds (long period groundswell), with a moderate energy of 175 (weak to moderate). The wind is a light cross-onshore from the NNE, so it’s a bit bumpy. The afternoon sees a touch more size at 2 ft from the ESE, with a 12-second period and energy jumping to 245 (moderate). The wind is glassy light from the SSE. This is a classic case of long-period groundswell hitting a beach break – it might be better suited for the point or a reef, because it can break too straight and close out. But if you pick your peak, you might get a clean, chest-high wave.

The rest of the run into the 24th is a bust. Tiny swells, onshore or cross winds, and that combined energy barely gets above 100. For the most part, the setup is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, especially on the windier days.

So, to sum it up: the best on offer is a toss-up between the glassy, tiny morning of the 18th and the longer-period pulse on the 19th. Neither is a classic, but it’s all we’ve got. Keep an eye on the 19th for the best chance of a wave with a bit of shape.

Rusty.

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