Surf Forecasts:
Nags Head Pier surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 8s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 11s period, ESE swell with 135 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 8s 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 3s is also forecast. 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 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 03) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Nags Head Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. We’re looking at the Outer Banks, specifically Nags Head Pier, and the next 16 days. I’ll be straight with you – it’s a long, slow grind for most of it. The water is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 81°.
We’ve got a real quiet start. The first few days are a bust. Friday the 28th has tiny 2ft E swell with a short 8-second period, and a risk of t-storms. Not worth paddling out for. Saturday the 29th isn’t much better, but there’s a moment Saturday afternoon where the wind goes glassy, though the swell is still just 2ft from the ESE at 8 seconds. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. Sunday the 30th has a similar story with clean conditions but knee-high slop.
Monday the 31st through Tuesday the 1st of September sees the swell drop even more. Onshore winds and tiny waves make for a real flat spell. Wednesday the 2nd of September actually sees a bump in energy – the combined swell energy hits 122 (moderate) with 3ft ESE swell at 10 seconds, but it’s blowing onshore at 12 mph from the E, so it’s messy and poor. That trend continues right through the end of the first week and into the second.
The first real standout – and I mean *the* standout – is on Wednesday, September 9th. The morning session looks promising. We’ve got a solid 4ft swell from the ESE, with a 14-second period. That’s a proper groundswell with some real push. The combined energy jumps to 460 (strong), and the wind is a light offshore breeze from the N at 9 mph. This is going to be clean and powerful. At 4ft it’s a good size for most intermediate surfers. Keep in mind that long period swell like this (14 seconds) can make beach breaks a bit inconsistent, but Nags Head Pier can handle it. This is your best bet of the whole forecast.
The rest of the window after that drops off again. Thursday the 10th has some offshore wind but the swell drops to 2ft. Friday the 11th and Saturday the 12th are back to small, choppy cross-onshore conditions. There’s not much else to get excited about.
So, to sum it up: you’ve got a long, flat start, a very promising morning on September 9th, and then it fades again. If you’re going to pick a session, make it the 9th.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Fri afternoon. Warm (max 28°C on Fri night, min 24°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 32°C on Tue afternoon, min 25°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | ||||||||||||||
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) | E 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | E 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 35 | 34 | 37 | 37 | 26 | 29 | 27 | 25 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 12 | 20 | 66 | 121 | 102 | 66 | 45 | 43 | 34 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:32PM1.15m | 8:53AM1.15m | 9:12PM1.15m | 9:34AM1.20m | 9:53PM1.12m | 10:16AM1.24m | 10:35PM1.09m | 11:02AM1.26m | 11:21PM1.04m | 11:51AM1.27m | 00:11AM0.99m | 12:46PM1.25m | 1:07AM0.95m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:19PM0.13m | 2:44AM0.12m | 3:03PM0.10m | 3:20AM0.09m | 3:48PM0.09m | 3:58AM0.08m | 4:34PM0.09m | 4:38AM0.08m | 5:23PM0.11m | 5:22AM0.09m | 6:16PM0.14m | 6:12AM0.11m | 7:15PM0.18m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | |  | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — |
 | 7:36 | — | — | 7:34 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:27 | — |
mm | 6 | 7 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 32 | 31 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 31 | 28 |
Feels °C | 29 | 30 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 34 | 33 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 30 | 33 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | NNE 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | E 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 8 |
| kJ | 35 | 34 | 37 | 37 | 26 | 9 | 27 | 25 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 12 | 20 | 66 | 121 | 102 | 66 | 45 | 43 | 34 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 11 | SSE 5 | ENE 10 | E 10 | NNE 5 | ESE 9 | NE 5 | NNE 5 | NE 5 | NE 6 | NE 5 | ESE 8 | N 3 | ESE 9 | — | ENE 6 | ENE 5 | SSE 4 | ESE 5 | ENE 5 |
| kJ | 9 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 10 | 29 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 30 | — | 6 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 6 | ENE 10 | E 10 | S 5 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | NE 6 | E 9 | E 8 | E 14 | ESE 13 | NNE 4 | — | — | — | ENE 5 | NE 6 | S 5 |
| kJ | 3 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 17 | 3 | — | — | — | 11 | 8 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 3 | — | NE 3 | NNE 3 | — | — | — | S 3 | W 3 | — | SW 3 | WSW 3 | — | — | S 4 | — | SE 3 | S 4 | SSW 2 | SW 3 |
| kJ | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 4 | 3 | — | 5 | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | 5 | 7 | 1 | 9 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 217 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 634 | 0 | 2029 | 369 | 43 | 1410 | 392 | 43 | 2114 | 0 | 84 | 298 | 94 | 0 | 94 | 217 |
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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