Nags Head Pier surf break

Nags Head Pier surfForecast / Carolina North / USA

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 7 am Monday 18 May 2026 EDT
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Nags Head Pier surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Nags Head Pier sea temperature is
17.0° C
(Which is 4.1°C colder than average for this time of year)

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 (May 19) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m 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 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (May 21) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Sunday (May 24) at 8PM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11AM (Tue 19th May)1.5ft (0.5m) 8s
Best Surf11AM (Tue 19th May)1.5ft (0.5m) 8s
Most Powerful 5AM (Thu 21st May)2.5ft (0.8m) 9s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Nags Head Pier over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Mon afternoon, min 21°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Mon morning, fresh winds from the S by Wed afternoon).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Warm (max 24°C on Thu afternoon, min 15°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNE on Thu afternoon, light winds from the ENE by Sat afternoon).

Monday
18
Tuesday
19
Wednesday
20
Thursday
21
Friday
22
Saturday
23
Sunday
24
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
SE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.5
ESE
9
0.5
ESE
8
0.5
ESE
8
0.5
ESE
9
0.7
ESE
9
0.5
ESE
9
0.6
ESE
9
0.7
SE
9
0.7
SE
8
0.7
ESE
8
0.7
ESE
8
0.9
NE
6
0.9
NE
7
0.7
SE
8
0.6
ENE
6
0.9
S
4
0.7
S
6
0.9
S
4
0.4
ENE
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
31
26
44
41
41
45
70
46
62
79
74
62
64
56
79
66
26
29
30
28
19
Wind (km/h)
5
SSW
25
S
20
SSW
10
S
30
S
25
SSW
10
SW
30
S
25
SSW
10
W
30
NNE
15
NNE
10
N
20
NNE
10
NNW
10
NNW
20
SE
15
SW
15
N
20
ENE
10
ENE
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
off
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
9:19AM1.04m
9:48PM1.47m
10:16AM1.01m
10:45PM1.40m
11:16AM0.99m
11:43PM1.32m
12:18PM0.99m
00:43AM1.23m
1:22PM1.00m
1:43AM1.14m
2:25PM1.02m
2:41AM1.07m
3:23PM1.06m
3:35AM1.00m
Low Tide
3:12PM-0.01m
4:23AM0.02m
4:09PM0.03m
5:20AM0.06m
5:10PM0.09m
6:18AM0.10m
6:14PM0.15m
7:16AM0.13m
7:22PM0.21m
8:10AM0.15m
8:29PM0.24m
9:02AM0.17m
9:33PM0.26m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
light rain
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:54
5:54
5:52
5:52
5:52
5:50
5:50
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:02
8:04
8:04
8:05
8:06
8:07
8:07
2
1
Temp °C
24
25
23
24
25
22
24
25
23
23
24
17
18
17
19
19
23
23
22
20
19
26
24
22
24
23
19
23
23
20
24
25
16
19
16
19
20
23
23
24
20
19
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
SE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.5
ESE
9
0.5
ESE
8
0.5
ESE
8
0.5
ESE
9
0.7
ESE
9
0.5
ESE
9
0.6
ESE
9
0.7
SE
9
0.7
SE
8
0.9
NNE
5
0.8
NNE
6
0.9
NE
6
0.9
NE
7
0.7
NE
7
0.6
ENE
6
0.4
ENE
6
0.4
ENE
6
0.4
ENE
7
0.4
ENE
7
Energy kJ
31
26
44
41
41
45
70
46
62
79
74
46
46
56
79
46
26
15
15
21
19
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
ENE
8
0.1
NE
8
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
15
0.1
E
15
0.1
E
15
0.1
E
14
0.1
E
15
0.1
E
14
0.7
ESE
8
0.7
ESE
8
0.6
ESE
8
0.5
ESE
8
0.7
SE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
SE
7
0.4
SE
8
0.4
SE
7
0.4
SE
7
Energy kJ
6
2
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
62
64
45
35
66
23
14
14
14
13
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
E
15
0.1
E
14
0.1
E
16
0.1
E
16
0.1
E
16
0.1
E
14
0.2
ESE
14
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
13
0.2
ESE
9
0.2
E
9
0.1
E
10
0.3
SSE
5
Energy kJ
4
4
5
5
5
4
20
4
3
3
3
3
3
8
7
2
6
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
S
4
0.6
S
3
0.6
S
4
0.4
S
3
0.7
S
4
0.6
S
4
0.4
SW
3
0.9
S
4
0.7
SSW
4
0.5
S
5
0.3
SSE
2
0.3
S
2
0.8
S
4
0.9
S
4
0.7
S
6
0.9
S
4
0.8
SSW
4
Energy kJ
6
8
9
2
13
9
2
27
16
11
1
1
21
29
30
28
18
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
Distance (km)
0
1275
280
0
491
865
0
476
49
0
43
170
84
84
0
0
654
0
43
2871
336
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Best forecast wave conditions in United States
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
3
3
3
4
3
1
3
3
1
3
1
1
2
2
2
2
1
1
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
7
5
5
7
6
5
4
5
4
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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