Nags Head Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be real about the next couple of weeks. We’ve got a long stretch of pretty flat, wind-affected conditions ahead, so don’t get your hopes up for any heroics. The first real surfable window doesn't open until August 6, and even then, it’s nothing to write home about. We’re looking at a solid gap of flatness from now until then.

The combined wave energy is weak, rarely breaking into the triple digits. For the most part, we’re dealing with tiny, short-period windswells, and the wind is just not playing ball. Most of the time, it’s cross or cross-off, which doesn't help clean up the small stuff.

The only spot we’ve got to look at is Nags Head Pier. It’s a beach/jetty setup, exposed to the NE, so it needs a little more push than we’re getting. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

August 6, Thursday morning, is the first time we see a tiny pulse. We’re talking a 2 ft swell from the ESE, with a period of 7 seconds. It’s weak, with a combined energy of only 58. The wind is a gentle breeze from the SSW, making it cross-offshore, so it’ll be clean. “Surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” is the best way to put it. It’s really just a knee-high dribbler for the dedicated.

After that, August 8, Saturday morning, offers a similar story. A 2 ft swell from the SE, 8 second period, combined energy of 51. The wind is a light breeze from the SW, cross-offshore, so it’s clean. Again, “surfable but very ordinary.” It’s not going to get your heart racing.

August 10, Monday morning, has a brief moment of pure offshore wind from the WSW, but the swell is a pathetic 1 ft from the SE. Combined energy is a measly 17. It’s glassy clean, but there’s nothing to ride.

August 15, Saturday afternoon, is the only other time we see a clean offshore wind, this time from the WSW, with a 0.7 ft, 9-second period ESE swell. Combined energy is 15. It’s a lake.

Honestly, the standout, if you can call it that, is that Thursday morning on August 6. It’s the only day with a combined energy of 58 and a clean, cross-off breeze. It’s the best of a bad bunch, but it’s strictly for the longboard or the foamie. The rest of the time, it’s flat or blown out. For the second week, especially from August 12 onwards, the swell drops off a cliff, and the wind turns onshore or cross-onshore, making it even worse. August 17 and 18 see a slight bump to 2 ft, but it’s blowing straight onshore, so it’s just a messy, choppy mess. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, if you’re into that sort of thing.

Stay patient, keep your eyes on the horizon, and don't rush to get wet. This is a quiet period for the Outer Banks.

Rusty.

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