Surf Forecasts:
Nags Head Pier surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 11s period, ESE swell with 82 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s period with SE 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 (Aug 18) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 9s period. 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 0.6m 11s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Nags Head Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Nags Head Pier.
Honestly, for the next little while, it’s looking pretty flat and uninspiring. We’ve got a real stretch of nothing much here. From Tuesday the 18th of August right through to the end of the first week, it’s all small, weak, and wind-affected. You’ll see a few tiny waves around 1 to 2 feet, but the wind is mostly cross-on or onshore, and the combined swell energy is barely registering – we’re talking values like 69 and 80 for the few moments it’s surfable. That’s weak, very weak. Truly, there’s nothing worth paddling out for during that first week.
Now, after that quiet spell, things do start to change. By the morning of Wednesday the 26th of August, we get a pulse of longer-period swell. We’re seeing a 2-foot swell from the east with a 15-second period, and the combined energy jumps up to a moderate 203. The wind is offshore from the southwest too, so it should be clean. That’s the first real standout, but the swell is still small. The afternoon gets messy with strong side-shore winds.
The next morning, Thursday the 27th of August, is similar – a slightly bigger 3-foot swell from the east-southeast, a 12-second period, and offshore winds from the south-southwest. The energy is back in the moderate range at 195. It’ll be clean, but still small. Keep your expectations in check.
After that, the following weekend drifts back into the ordinary. We get a few near-glassy mornings on Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st of August with tiny 2 to 3-foot swell, but the period drops right off, and the energy is weak. It’s surfable but only just, and it’s very ordinary.
The pick of the entire forecast is that Wednesday morning, the 26th of August, and Thursday morning, the 27th. They’re the only sessions offering clean conditions with a bit of period behind the swell. At Nags Head Pier (a beach and jetty setup), that long-period east swell might break a bit straight, but the offshore wind will make it rideable. Shortboarders will get the best of this, but it’s still small.
Crowds can be an issue here, especially when it’s the only game in town, so expect company.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Mon night, min 26°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 55mm), heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 29°C on Thu night, min 24°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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 9 | SE 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 8 | E 12 | S 4 | E 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 20 | 41 | 66 | 56 | 33 | 31 | 25 | 23 | 14 | 14 | 23 | 16 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 12 | 27 | 26 | 25 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-off | on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 11:58PM0.99m | 12:27PM1.15m | 00:41AM0.92m | 1:14PM1.10m | 1:26AM0.86m | 2:03PM1.06m | 2:15AM0.82m | 2:57PM1.04m | 3:10AM0.80m | 3:53PM1.03m | 4:09AM0.80m | 4:49PM1.05m | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:01AM0.17m | 6:49PM0.25m | 6:41AM0.22m | 7:39PM0.31m | 7:25AM0.26m | 8:32PM0.35m | 8:14AM0.29m | 9:29PM0.37m | 9:08AM0.31m | 10:27PM0.37m | 10:06AM0.30m | 11:21PM0.34m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | | | |  | | | | | |  | |  | |
 | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — |
 | 7:50 | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — |
mm | — | — | 6 | 3 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 15 | 18 | 2 | 4 | 11 | — | 3 | 11 |
Temp °C | 30 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 24 |
Feels °C | 32 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 27 | 31 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | NE 5 | SSE 4 | SSE 7 | ESE 8 | SE 7 |
| kJ | 20 | 41 | 66 | 56 | 33 | 31 | 25 | 23 | 14 | 14 | 23 | 16 | 26 | 25 | 11 | 15 | 19 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | ESE 12 | S 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | S 4 | SSE 4 | E 3 | — | E 6 | SE 5 | SSE 5 | NE 3 | SSE 4 | ESE 9 | NE 5 | NE 6 | NE 6 | E 12 |
| kJ | 2 | 14 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 25 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 25 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | ESE 12 | SE 8 | — | SE 5 | — | — | SE 4 | E 7 | E 16 | NNE 3 | E 7 | SSE 5 | E 13 | E 13 | E 8 | E 12 | E 12 | NNE 6 |
| kJ | 2 | 14 | 14 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 27 | 11 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WSW 2 | — | NE 2 | ENE 3 | ENE 3 | E 4 | — | SE 2 | S 4 | — | NE 3 | — | NNE 4 | S 3 | WSW 3 | SW 3 | S 4 | S 4 |
| kJ | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | — | 2 | 10 | — | 3 | — | 9 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 26 | 37 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 555 | 0 | 50 | 84 | 254 | 50 | 43 | 634 | 2209 | 867 | 430 | 830 | 84 | 0 | 17 | 239 | 17 | 274 | 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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