Nags Head Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's break down what's in store for us.

Right off the bat, it's gonna be a long, slow spell. We're looking at a solid 9-day stretch with barely a ripple before anything even qualifies as surfable, and even then, it's not exactly pumping.

Starting Wednesday the 19th through about the 25th of August, it's flat or near-flat. We're talking tiny 0.7ft to 1ft slop with weak energy (16 to 46). Winds are all over the place - glassy Friday morning the 21st is about the only highlight, but with 1ft on offer there's nothing to ride. That Friday afternoon risk of thunderstorms and onshore wind seals the deal. Not worth paddling out.

Then Tuesday afternoon the 25th, we finally get a glimpse of something. It's still small, 1ft from the ESE, but the energy creeps up to 46 and the wind goes cross-offshore, cleaning it up. The wave comment says "surfable but very ordinary conditions." That's about the best we can say for the next few days, but it's small and inconsistent.

The real standout window starts to appear from Friday the 28th of August into the first few days of September. That Friday morning, the swell bumps up to 2ft from the SE, period around 9 seconds, and the energy jumps into the low triple digits at 101. Winds are light and cross-off, so it's clean. It's still small, but it's the most promising we've seen.

By Tuesday the 1st of September, we've got a touch more size – 1ft to 2ft – but the period stretches out to 12 and 13 seconds from the East. That longer period groundswell brings better shape and a bit more grunt, with energy hitting 103 to 130. Winds are moderate and cross-off, keeping it clean. This is the pick of the bunch. Wednesday the 2nd and Thursday the 3rd keep the 2ft waves rolling, energy in the 126 to 143 range, and light cross-off winds in the mornings.

Now, Nags Head Pier here is a beach/jetty setup. With these longer period swells – over 11 seconds – you might find the sandbars aren't cooperating perfectly and the waves could fatten up a bit, but on a cleaner morning, there'll be something to work with.

Water temp is sitting at a toasty 82°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – nothing radical, just a nice warm bath.

Best on offer: Your standout is the Tuesday morning, September 1st through that Thursday morning, September 3rd window. The swell direction out of the East is ideal for the pier, energy is moderate, and the wind is clean. It's not a bomb, but after 9 days of nothing, this is the one to mark on your calendar.

Alright, that's the story.

- Rusty

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