Nags Head Pier Surf Break

Lat Long: 35.97° N 75.63° W

Nags Head Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 pm 28 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Nags Head Pier sea temperature is
24.6° C
2.2° 

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


Nags Head Pier surf forecast from 28 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 4 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 7s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 7s period, SE swell with 77 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 4 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 7s period with SE swell.

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 Tuesday (Aug 04) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Nags Head Pier in the next 16 days are 0.8m 7s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 2AM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Tue 4th Aug)2ft (0.6m) 7s
Best Surf 2AM (Tue 4th Aug)2ft (0.6m) 7s
Most Powerful 8PM (Sun 2nd Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 7s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's take a look at what's cookin' for the Outer Banks.

First things first, I gotta be straight with you. Looking at the whole 16-day window, it's a tough one. The wave energy is weak as dishwater, with the combined energy of all swells directed here barely cracking 80 for most of the run. We're looking at a long stretch of small, messy surf. The water temperature is a chilly 76°, which is a full 4° colder than normal for this time of year – that's a notable chill, so a spring suit might be the call.

Starting off Tuesday the 28th through the end of July, it's a write-off. We're talking ankle-snappers at best, with a 0.7ft to 2ft swell from the ESE or SE. That's a short-period, windswell mess. The wind is all over the place, mostly cross or onshore, just making it choppy and crummy. Friday the 31st afternoon is the worst, with a tiny 0.7ft wave and a moderate cross-onshore breeze. Forget it.

The first week of August doesn't offer much relief. We get a bit of a bump on Sunday the 2nd, with a 2ft swell from the SE, but it's on the back of a moderate cross-onshore wind and a risk of thunderstorms. The combined energy only hits 60 there, so it's still weak. Monday the 3rd is a bit cleaner with a cross-offshore wind, but we're still stuck with that weak, short-period SE swell. The real kicker comes on Thursday the 6th afternoon when the swell jumps to 4ft from the S, but it's got a measly period of 5 seconds. That's all chop and no power, and the combined energy is still only 80. It's a beach break setup, and with that kind of weak, short-period mush, it's looking more interesting for a kite than a paddle.

Now, there is a tiny glimmer. Saturday the 8th morning, we get a real treat with glassy conditions. The wind goes dead calm, and it's clear skies. Unfortunately, the swell is still a pathetic 1ft from the SE with an 8-second period. The combined energy is a paltry 39. It will be knee-high and clean, but you'll be scratching for anything. That's the only real standout for a clean wave, but it's a very small one.

For the second week, it's more of the same. A few sessions with a clean cross-offshore wind on the 11th and 12th, but the swell is tiny – 0.7ft to 1ft. The combined energy never gets above 36. You might get a fun little ankle-snapper, but it's not worth getting excited about.

Honestly, this is a tough stretch. The only spot on the menu is Nags Head Pier, a beach/jetty setup that's usually consistent, but the swell just isn't cooperating. If you're dying for a paddle, the glassy morning of Saturday the 8th is your best bet, but keep your expectations low. It's a blank run for the most part, but this is the Outer Banks – forecasts can change.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 28°C on Tue afternoon, min 23°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Tue night, calm by Wed night).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 27°C on Sun afternoon, min 23°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Tue
28
Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
Sunday
2
Monday
3
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
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
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)
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.6
SE
7
0.5
SE
7
0.5
SE
8
0.6
SE
8
0.5
SE
8
0.5
SE
8
0.5
SE
8
0.2
ESE
9
0.4
NE
6
0.4
NE
6
0.3
ESE
9
0.3
SE
6
0.7
SE
7
0.7
SE
7
0.7
SE
7
0.8
SE
7
0.4
SE
8
0.6
SE
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
21
20
39
25
28
37
29
33
35
8
9
13
15
7
52
51
54
59
15
37
Wind (km/h)
25
S
40
SSW
20
NW
10
ENE
0
ESE
25
N
10
ENE
10
SSW
15
NNE
20
NE
5
N
15
ENE
20
SE
15
SSE
20
SE
20
S
25
SSW
20
SW
20
SW
15
SW
Wind State
cross
cross-off
cross-off
on
glassy
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
7:40PM1.16m
7:56AM0.91m
8:22PM1.17m
8:40AM0.96m
9:01PM1.17m
9:22AM1.01m
9:40PM1.16m
10:03AM1.06m
10:19PM1.14m
10:45AM1.10m
11:00PM1.11m
11:29AM1.15m
11:43PM1.07m
Low Tide
2:07AM0.24m
1:52PM0.19m
2:46AM0.21m
2:38PM0.18m
3:23AM0.18m
3:22PM0.17m
3:58AM0.15m
4:07PM0.17m
4:34AM0.13m
4:52PM0.17m
5:12AM0.12m
5:41PM0.17m
part cloud
thunderstorm
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
clear
clear
part cloud
mod rain
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
mod rain
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:07
6:07
6:07
6:09
6:09
6:11
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:10
8:09
8:08
8:07
8:07
8:06
8:05
 mm
16
2
2
7
15
2
6
6
Temp °C
28
27
24
25
26
24
25
26
24
24
24
24
25
26
26
27
25
25
26
27
Feels °C
28
26
24
27
28
23
25
26
25
24
24
26
25
26
27
28
25
26
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)
Map placeholder
How to use the Wavefinder 
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