Surf Forecasts:
Nags Head Pier surf forecast from 4 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 5 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 8s period, ESE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 7s period, ENE swell with 432 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 8s period with ESE 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 Saturday (Sep 05) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 4s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 8s is also forecast. 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 2.2m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sat 5th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sat 5th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 7ft (2.2m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Nags Head Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are looking pretty bleak for the Outer Banks. The only spot on the radar is Nags Head Pier, and it’s a tough watch.
The overall pattern is one of tiny, weak swell and a lot of wind working against us. The water is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 82°F, but that’s about the only nice thing I can say.
We start with a little bit of hope on Thursday morning, September 3rd. We’ve got a tiny 2ft swell from the ESE with a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy is a weak 54, and while the wind is a light cross-offshore, making it look clean, it’s just too small to get excited about. It’s a groveler’s special at best. That little window closes fast. By the afternoon, the wind picks up and goes cross, killing it completely.
After that, it’s a long, flat stretch. From Thursday afternoon all the way through to Wednesday, September 16th, the forecast is a litany of “poor surf conditions.” We’re looking at swell heights that barely nudge 2ft, often with periods under 8 seconds, and the wind is never your friend. There’s a brief moment on Monday, September 7th where the swell pushes up to 5ft from the ENE, but it’s a short-period, wind-chopped mess with a cross-onshore breeze. The combined energy hits 161, but it’s all junk. That setup is really more interesting for kite surfing than a proper paddle session.
The only other glimmer comes on Wednesday, September 16th in the afternoon. The wind drops to glassy, and the water goes flat. The swell is still a pathetic 1ft from the SE, but the combined energy nudges up to 53 and it’s clean. It’s a session for the log or the longboard, no question, and you’ll be scratching for anything. There’s a *tiny* pulse of NE windswell on the 18th, but it’s a 4ft, short-period (6-7 seconds) mess with onshore wind. It’s not worth marking your calendar for.
So, the honest truth for Nags Head Pier? This is a blank run. There’s nothing that stands out as a true winner. The best on offer is that Thursday morning, September 3rd, for the desperate, or that glassy Wednesday afternoon, September 16th, for the zen. We’re in a lull, and it’s going to last the whole 16 days. Forecasts can change, but right now, I’d save the wax.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 33°C on Fri afternoon, min 24°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat night, fresh winds from the ENE by Sun afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Wed afternoon, min 23°C on Tue morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Sun night, light winds from the SW by Wed morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ENE 4 | E 9 | E 5 | E 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 6 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 27 | 26 | 13 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 63 | 251 | 432 | 316 | 160 | 154 | 122 | 83 | 56 | 46 | 29 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:07AM0.95m | 1:47PM1.23m | 2:12AM0.92m | 2:53PM1.22m | 3:21AM0.92m | 4:02PM1.22m | 4:31AM0.95m | 5:07PM1.23m | 5:35AM1.02m | 6:07PM1.24m | 6:32AM1.09m | 7:00PM1.23m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:08AM0.14m | 8:20PM0.21m | 8:12AM0.16m | 9:29PM0.21m | 9:22AM0.16m | 10:35PM0.20m | 10:33AM0.14m | 11:36PM0.16m | 11:39AM0.11m | 00:29AM0.12m | 12:40PM0.07m | 1:16AM0.09m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — |
 | 7:27 | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:19 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 10 | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 33 | 29 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 25 |
Feels °C | 28 | 28 | 35 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 26 | 25 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSE 6 | ESE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 4 | ESE 8 | S 5 | — | — | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 |
| kJ | 27 | 26 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 2 | — | — | 16 | 12 | 154 | 122 | 83 | 56 | 46 | 29 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 5 | S 4 | ENE 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 9 | E 13 | — | — | — | — | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 6 | SE 5 | SE 5 |
| kJ | 8 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 33 | 22 | 16 | 12 | 7 | 4 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | ESE 8 | S 6 | — | ENE 7 | ENE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 7 | — | ESE 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 13 | 3 | — | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | — | 7 | 9 | 9 | 17 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 4 | WSW 3 | SSW 4 | WSW 4 | NW 3 | — | — | NE 4 | E 5 | E 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | S 4 |
| kJ | 14 | 8 | 11 | 16 | 1 | — | — | 4 | 63 | 251 | 432 | 316 | 160 | — | — | — | — | — | 9 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 309 | 298 | 2209 | 239 | 245 | 2209 | 84 | 174 | 552 | 334 | 334 | 485 | 174 | 49 | 289 | 17 | 3 | 1171 | 827 |
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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