Surf Forecasts:
Nags Head Pier surf forecast from 28 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 28 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 8s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 4 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 8s period, SE swell with 129 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 28 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 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 Tuesday (Jul 28) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 6s. 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 1.0m 8s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Tue 28th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Tue 28th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Tue 4th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Nags Head Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. I’ve been diggin’ through the charts for the Outer Banks, and I gotta be straight with you: it’s a tough stretch ahead. The whole 16-day window is a bit of a bust, so we’re just gonna call it like it is.
We’re looking at Nags Head Pier for the whole run, and to be honest, there’s nothing to get excited about. The surf is flat and weak, with the combined energy barely scraping into double digits on a good day, sitting around (49) at its best early on. The water is running a bit colder than normal for this time of year, around 77°, but that’s the least of our worries.
The first few days are a write-off. Monday the 27th is a complete no-go with a risk of thunderstorms, a weak 2ft swell from the ESE, and a cross-shore wind making a mess of things. Tuesday and Wednesday are more of the same – tiny swell, messy wind, and no quality. This pattern just keeps repeating. We see a few moments of clean conditions, like on the morning of Wednesday the 29th with a light WNW cross-offshore wind, but the swell is a pathetic 2ft with a short 7-second period. It’s surfable, but barely. It’s the kind of day you’d be better off fixing your fins than paddling out.
The whole first week is a grind. Lots of cross-shore and cross-onshore winds, weak swell from the SE, and nothing that breaks waist-high. The combined energy stays in the weak 30-60 range, which tells you all you need to know. Even the few mornings with clean conditions, like the 30th, 31st, and 3rd of August, are let down by the lack of any real push.
The second week doesn’t get any better. We’re looking at more of the same tiny, weak swell. There’s a glassy morning on Thursday the 6th of August, but the swell is a measly 1ft. Even a few offshore days on the 8th and 9th can’t save it. The highlight is a brief spike of windswell on the afternoon of the 8th, coming from the NNE at 3ft, but the period is a terrible 4 seconds, and it’s still a messy, cross-shore day. It’s just not happening.
Honestly, this is one of those blank runs that’s more normal for the area when the stars don’t align. There’s no standout day, no hidden gem. The swell is too small, the wind is mostly wrong, and the energy is just not there. For a beach break like Nags Head Pier, this setup is more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer, if they’re desperate. For the rest of us, it’s a long wait.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 41mm), heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 28°C on Tue afternoon, min 22°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the S on Tue night, light winds from the NE by Wed afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Warm (max 28°C on Sat afternoon, min 23°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | ||||||||||||||
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 | SE 6 | SE 7 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | NNE 4 | E 9 | E 9 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 34 | 26 | 22 | 38 | 42 | 11 | 35 | 28 | 29 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 37 | 84 | 29 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:10AM0.87m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:26AM0.28m | 1:05PM0.21m | 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 | |||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | |  |  |  | | | |
 | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — |
 | 8:10 | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — |
mm | 5 | — | — | 33 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 5 | 6 |
Temp °C | 25 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 26 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 29 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 6 | SE 7 | N 4 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 8 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | SE 8 | NE 6 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 34 | 26 | 22 | 38 | 42 | 5 | 35 | 28 | 29 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 37 | 5 | 20 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | E 9 | SE 7 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | NNE 4 | E 9 | ENE 7 | SE 8 | SE 7 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 5 |
| kJ | 12 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 16 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | — | — | — | NE 6 | ESE 8 | N 3 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 8 | NE 7 | E 9 | E 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SSE 6 | NE 6 | — | SSE 7 |
| kJ | 2 | — | — | — | 2 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 8 | — | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 4 | SSW 4 | NNW 3 | — | SSE 2 | N 4 | N 4 | — | N 3 | NNE 3 | — | — | SE 6 | SE 3 | SE 2 | SE 8 | ESE 5 |
| kJ | — | — | 12 | 46 | 4 | — | 1 | 9 | 8 | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | 14 | 2 | 1 | 84 | 29 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 1144 | 1057 | 94 | 0 | 199 | 17 | 170 | 170 | 43 | 43 | 555 | 254 | 94 | 654 | 655 | 1275 | 871 | 94 |
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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