Surf Forecasts:
Nags Head Pier surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 15 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 7s period, E swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 13 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s period, E swell with 255 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 15 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 7s period with E 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 Wednesday (Jul 15) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Nags Head Pier in the next 16 days are 1.7m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 13) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 16) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Mon 13th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Nags Head Pier over the next 16 days.
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s dig into what’s coming up for the Outer Banks.
First up, the water temp is running a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 83°F.
To be honest, the next week and a half is a bit of a struggle. We’ve got a lot of onshore wind and small, weak swell hanging around. From Sunday the 12th through Tuesday the 14th, it’s pretty much a write-off with easterly winds and short-period swell making for messy, poor conditions. The energy is low to moderate, maxing out around 229 on Monday, but that wind is just ruining it.
Wednesday morning the 15th is the first real glimmer of hope. The wind goes glassy out of the northwest at 3 mph, and we’ve got a tiny 2ft swell from the east with a period of 7 seconds. It’s surfable but very ordinary. The combined energy is a weak 54.
Thursday the 16th morning cleans up nicely with a light offshore wind from the west at 6 mph, but the swell is a paltry 1ft. It’s clean, but there’s just not enough push.
The weekend of the 18th and 19th is all cross and onshore winds again, with tiny swell. Nothing to write home about.
Here’s the standout, and it’s a long way off so keep an eye on the forecasts: Monday morning, July 20th. We finally see a pulse of swell from the northeast at 3ft with a period of 7 seconds. The wind is cross-off from the NNW at 13 mph, which will keep it clean at Nags Head Pier. The combined energy hits 131, which is moderate. This is the best looking window in the whole 16-day stretch. The crowd factor is listed as "sometimes," so you might have some company, but it’s the best chance for a decent session.
After that, the energy drops back off. Tuesday the 21st is back to onshore winds and small swell. Wednesday the 22nd afternoon shows a tiny window of clean conditions with a light cross-off wind, but the swell is only 2ft.
The final week of July is mostly flat or tiny, with clean offshore winds but virtually no swell. A few clean days on the 23rd, 24th, and 25th, but with zero to 1ft of swell, you’re looking at a glassy lake, not waves.
So, bottom line: the best bet is Monday morning, July 20th at Nags Head Pier. Keep the 15th and 16th as small wave options if you’re desperate. Otherwise, it’s a long wait for the next real pulse.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 45mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 27°C on Sun morning, min 21°C on Mon morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the E on Mon morning, calm by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 30°C on Thu afternoon, min 25°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SE 10 | SE 10 | ENE 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 23 | 24 | 245 | 229 | 202 | 148 | 86 | 80 | 83 | 38 | 39 | 29 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 6 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | glassy |
High Tide | 6:30PM1.41m | 6:52AM1.01m | 7:29PM1.43m | 7:52AM1.04m | 8:26PM1.42m | 8:50AM1.07m | 9:21PM1.38m | 9:46AM1.11m | 10:14PM1.32m | 10:41AM1.13m | 11:04PM1.24m | 11:33AM1.14m | 11:52PM1.14m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:49AM0.02m | 1:03AM0.08m | 12:51PM-0.00m | 2:01AM0.06m | 1:51PM-0.01m | 2:56AM0.04m | 2:51PM-0.00m | 3:47AM0.04m | 3:49PM0.02m | 4:36AM0.05m | 4:46PM0.07m | 5:22AM0.07m | 5:41PM0.12m | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — |
 | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:16 | — |
mm | 3 | 2 | 24 | 13 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 11 | 3 | 1 |
Temp °C | 27 | 26 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 26 | 27 |
Feels °C | 30 | 26 | 25 | 18 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | SE 10 | S 7 | S 6 | SE 8 | SE 5 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSE 4 | ESE 8 | SSE 4 |
| kJ | 23 | 23 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 30 | 83 | 38 | 39 | 29 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 2 | 13 | 4 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | SE 10 | — | — | — | ESE 9 | — | — | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 16 | — | E 15 | E 15 | — | — | — | ESE 8 | E 13 | SSE 6 |
| kJ | 2 | 24 | — | — | — | 33 | — | — | 15 | 16 | 15 | 5 | — | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | 13 | 3 | 4 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 16 | E 16 | E 16 | E 15 | E 15 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | NE 4 | — | ESE 8 |
| kJ | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | 6 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ENE 4 | ENE 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | — | — | S 6 | SW 3 | SW 3 | S 2 | SSW 3 | — | NNE 2 | SE 3 | S 4 | S 3 | WSW 3 |
| kJ | — | 12 | 245 | 229 | 202 | 148 | 86 | 80 | — | — | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 7 | — | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 84 | 994 | 172 | 871 | 838 | 170 | 189 | 189 | 49 | 0 | 699 | 398 | 655 | 2488 | 605 | 1060 | 2371 | 1183 | 1183 | 438 | 239 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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
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