Surf Forecasts:
Nags Head Pier surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 8 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period, ESE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period, ESE swell with 44 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 8 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 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 (Aug 08) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 9s. 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 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 10) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Nags Head Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. The next few weeks are looking pretty quiet overall for the Outer Banks, but we’ve got a couple of silver linings if you’re patient.
Right now, and for the next week, it’s a real struggle. We’ve got tiny, weak swell – barely a ripple – with most of the energy reading under 100 (50-60). The water temp is sitting at 81°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year. The first real chance of anything surfable doesn’t show up until Wednesday the 19th of August.
For Wednesday morning the 19th, Nags Head Pier is the spot to look at. We’ve got a bump in size to 5ft from the SSE with a short period of 6 seconds. The wind is light and variable (cross-off), which means the surface will be clean. The combined energy pushes up to 242 (moderate), so there’s actually some push behind it. That’s the most promising window in the whole run. But keep in mind; the swell is short period, so it’ll be a bit crumbly, and the size is manageable for most intermediates. Not a standout for the crowds, but the surf is on.
Then we get another interesting window on Friday the 21st of August morning. Early, we see 6ft from the ENE with a period of 9 seconds, and the energy is high at 563 (strong). The wind is very light and variable, so it should be clean. That’s a solid, punchy wave for a beach break, but at 6ft, it’s getting into the territory where it’s more fun for experienced surfers. Beginners might find it a bit much.
After that, Saturday the 22nd of August morning also looks okay. Swell drops to 3ft from the ENE, period of 8 seconds, with a light offshore wind from the WSW. That’s a clean, fun-sized wave with energy at 203 (moderate). It’s a good option for the weekend warriors.
The long stretch from now until the 19th is a long, flat spell of poor surf conditions. The end of the run is a bit of a letdown again, with small, wind-affected waves.
So, the call is: hold out for Wednesday the 19th of August morning or Friday the 21st of August morning. The Friday morning window is the bigger, more powerful swell, but the Wednesday morning has the best wind. It’s a toss-up, but the energy on Friday is the real standout.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Sat night, calm by Sun afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 32°C on Tue afternoon, min 25°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (calm on Thu afternoon, fresh winds from the W by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 44 | 41 | 22 | 25 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 4:12PM1.28m | 4:34AM0.94m | 5:17PM1.31m | 5:40AM0.98m | 6:19PM1.33m | 6:42AM1.03m | 7:17PM1.34m | 7:40AM1.09m | 8:11PM1.33m | 8:33AM1.15m | 9:01PM1.29m | 9:23AM1.19m | 9:48PM1.23m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:29AM0.10m | 10:46PM0.18m | 10:35AM0.09m | 11:50PM0.15m | 11:41AM0.06m | 00:49AM0.11m | 12:44PM0.03m | 1:42AM0.08m | 1:44PM0.01m | 2:31AM0.05m | 2:40PM0.01m | 3:17AM0.05m | 3:33PM0.02m | 4:00AM0.06m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | |  | | |  | | |  | | | | |  | | |
 | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:53 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 |
Temp °C | 27 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 27 | 27 | 32 | 31 | 26 | 30 | 30 | 25 | 32 | 30 | 26 | 25 | 24 |
Feels °C | 29 | 32 | 25 | 30 | 32 | 27 | 30 | 32 | 26 | 28 | 33 | 32 | 29 | 33 | 31 | 27 | 34 | 31 | 26 | 26 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | S 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | S 4 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 4 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 6 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 |
| kJ | 44 | 41 | 22 | 25 | 12 | 25 | 10 | 9 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 42 | 23 | 37 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SSE 5 | SSE 7 | — | ESE 8 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 |
| kJ | 6 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 5 | — | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | E 10 | — | — | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 6 | E 8 | SE 6 | E 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 | — | E 10 | E 13 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | — | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 3 | S 3 | SSW 4 | WSW 3 | S 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 | — | W 3 | — | — | WSW 3 | W 2 | — | WSW 3 | — | — | SSW 4 | WSW 3 | SW 3 | WSW 2 |
| kJ | 2 | 8 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 2 | — | 5 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | — | — | 15 | 9 | 3 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 309 | 94 | 0 | 450 | 592 | 827 | 423 | 239 | 373 | 2371 | 239 | 239 | 245 | 84 | 43 | 2116 | 217 | 70 | 84 | 84 |
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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