Nags Head Pier surf break

Nags Head Pier surfForecast / Carolina North / USA

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 1 am Sunday 17 May 2026 EDT
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Nags Head Pier surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Nags Head Pier sea temperature is
16.6° C
(Which is 4.3°C colder than average for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Nags Head Pier this week:

The surf forecast for Nags Head Pier over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (May 17) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 8s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Nags Head Pier in the next 16 days are 0.8m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (May 21) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Sunday (May 17) at 11PM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11AM (Sun 17th May)1.5ft (0.5m) 8s
Best Surf11AM (Sun 17th May)1.5ft (0.5m) 8s
Most Powerful 5AM (Thu 21st May)2.5ft (0.8m) 9s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Nags Head Pier over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sun afternoon, min 19°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Thu afternoon). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Wed night, light winds from the ESE by Fri morning).

Sunday
17
Monday
18
Tuesday
19
Wednesday
20
Thursday
21
Friday
22
Saturday
23
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
SE
8
0.6
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.6
SE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.5
ESE
9
0.6
SE
8
0.5
ESE
8
0.5
ESE
9
0.7
ESE
9
0.5
ESE
9
0.6
ESE
9
0.7
ESE
9
0.7
ESE
9
0.9
NE
6
0.8
NE
6
0.7
NE
6
0.6
ENE
6
0.4
ESE
9
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
32
42
24
40
26
44
58
41
45
68
46
62
70
65
52
40
38
26
30
24
24
Wind (km/h)
10
W
25
S
20
SSW
5
SW
25
S
20
SSW
10
S
25
S
20
SSW
10
SSW
30
S
15
WSW
20
NNE
25
NE
15
ENE
10
ESE
30
S
25
SSW
15
SSW
30
S
15
SW
off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
High Tide
8:24AM1.06m
8:53PM1.50m
9:19AM1.04m
9:48PM1.47m
10:16AM1.01m
10:45PM1.40m
11:16AM0.99m
11:43PM1.32m
12:18PM0.99m
00:43AM1.23m
1:22PM1.00m
1:43AM1.14m
2:25PM1.02m
2:41AM1.07m
Low Tide
2:18PM-0.03m
3:27AM-0.01m
3:12PM-0.01m
4:23AM0.02m
4:09PM0.03m
5:20AM0.06m
5:10PM0.09m
6:18AM0.10m
6:14PM0.15m
7:16AM0.13m
7:22PM0.21m
8:10AM0.15m
8:29PM0.24m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:54
5:54
5:54
5:52
5:52
5:52
5:50
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:01
8:02
8:04
8:04
8:05
8:06
8:07
1
Temp °C
22
26
23
24
25
23
23
25
22
24
25
23
21
15
18
21
24
23
25
26
23
21
23
21
26
24
21
24
23
20
24
23
20
22
11
18
22
24
21
25
24
21
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
SE
8
0.6
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.6
SE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.5
ESE
9
0.6
SE
8
0.5
ESE
8
0.5
ESE
9
0.7
ESE
9
0.5
ESE
9
0.7
S
5
0.7
ESE
9
0.7
ESE
9
0.9
NE
6
0.8
NE
6
0.7
NE
6
0.6
ENE
6
0.4
ESE
9
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
Energy kJ
32
42
24
40
26
44
58
41
45
68
46
21
70
65
52
40
37
26
30
24
24
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SSE
5
0.3
ENE
9
0.2
ENE
8
0.2
ENE
8
0.1
NE
8
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
15
0.1
E
15
0.1
E
15
0.6
ESE
9
0.1
E
15
0.1
E
14
0.5
ESE
8
0.5
ESE
8
0.5
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.5
NE
6
0.4
NE
6
0.3
NE
6
Energy kJ
11
15
7
6
2
3
3
3
4
4
4
62
4
4
41
40
38
24
18
9
5
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
ENE
8
0.1
E
15
0.1
E
15
0.1
E
15
0.1
E
14
0.1
E
16
0.1
E
16
0.1
E
16
0.1
E
14
0.2
E
14
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
13
0.4
SSE
5
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
12
Energy kJ
14
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
4
16
4
3
3
3
8
3
3
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
SW
3
0.5
S
3
0.6
S
4
0.5
S
5
0.5
S
3
0.6
S
4
0.4
S
4
0.6
S
3
0.6
S
4
0.4
SW
3
0.8
S
4
0.3
WSW
3
0.6
N
3
1.1
NE
5
0.6
S
4
0.7
SSE
4
0.6
S
4
Energy kJ
1
5
9
11
5
9
5
8
9
2
19
2
7
60
10
13
11
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
Distance (km)
0
94
94
0
435
309
0
435
280
0
459
0
70
1283
170
47
2773
298
0
362
0
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Best forecast wave conditions in United States
Rating
(10 max)
2
6
4
4
4
3
4
3
3
4
3
1
3
3
1
3
3
2
3
1
1
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
4
6
4
4
4
5
4
5
4
5
6
5
5
9
5
4
5
5
4
4
4
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Nags Head Pier:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Nags Head Pier surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


Information about the Nags Head Pier Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Nags Head Pier provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Nags Head Pier can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Nags Head Pier 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 (Nags Head Pier) 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 Nags Head Pier 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.

Are you planning a vacation in North Carolina? If you are looking for accommodation near Nags Head Pier, camping, hotels and condos and appartments in North Carolina, consider staying in Elizabeth City which is 66 km (41 miles) away. Alternatively, find information about places to stay and car hire in Cape Hatteras which is 83 km (52 miles) away

Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest