Nags Head Pier surf break

Nags Head Pier surfForecast / Carolina North / USA

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 1 pm Saturday 16 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
17.1° C
(Which is 3.7°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 Sunday (May 17) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 8s 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 1.1m 7s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (May 23) at 2AM. 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 Saturday (May 16) at 11PM.

Wave TypeTime (EDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11AM (Sun 17th May)1.5ft (0.5m) 8s
Best Surf11AM (Sun 17th May)1.5ft (0.5m) 8s
Most Powerful 2AM (Sat 23rd May)3.5ft (1.1m) 7s

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 Sun afternoon, min 19°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Sat afternoon, light winds from the SSW by Mon morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Warm (max 25°C on Tue afternoon, min 15°C on Thu afternoon). Mainly fresh winds.

Sat
16
Sunday
17
Monday
18
Tuesday
19
Wednesday
20
Thursday
21
Friday
22
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
ENE
10
0.5
SE
8
0.5
SE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.6
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
ESE
9
1.1
NE
6
0.9
NE
6
1.1
NE
6
1.1
NE
7
0.9
ENE
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
56
32
31
24
24
40
26
44
41
41
45
70
47
64
79
65
69
54
85
122
96
Wind (km/h)
30
S
30
SSW
10
WSW
25
S
25
SSW
5
SSW
25
S
20
SSW
10
SSW
25
S
20
SSW
10
WSW
30
S
25
SSW
20
NNE
30
NE
20
NE
30
NE
15
NE
10
W
10
NNE
cross
cross-off
off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
off
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
off
cross-on
High Tide
7:59PM1.49m
8:24AM1.06m
8:53PM1.50m
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
Low Tide
2:31AM-0.02m
2:18PM-0.03m
3:27AM-0.01m
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
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:54
5:54
5:54
5:52
5:52
5:52
5:50
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:00
8:01
8:02
8:04
8:04
8:05
8:06
8:07
2
Temp °C
22
21
23
25
23
24
25
22
23
25
22
23
25
23
21
16
17
18
21
22
20
19
16
23
22
20
25
23
20
23
22
19
24
23
20
22
13
16
15
21
24
22
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
SE
8
0.5
SE
8
0.5
SE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.6
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
ESE
9
1.1
NE
6
0.9
NE
6
1.1
NE
6
1.1
NE
7
0.9
ENE
7
Energy kJ
34
32
31
24
24
40
26
44
41
41
45
70
47
64
79
65
69
54
85
122
96
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
ENE
10
0.4
ENE
9
0.4
SE
6
0.3
ENE
9
0.2
ENE
8
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
0.5
ESE
9
0.5
ESE
8
0.5
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
8
0.5
SE
8
Energy kJ
56
32
8
15
7
6
2
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
42
40
40
23
29
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
SE
5
0.3
ENE
8
0.1
E
15
0.1
E
15
0.1
E
15
0.1
E
14
0.1
E
16
0.1
E
16
0.1
E
16
0.2
E
14
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
13
0.1
E
13
Energy kJ
4
14
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
16
4
3
3
3
3
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
S
3
0.9
S
4
0.4
SW
3
0.7
S
4
0.7
SSW
4
0.2
W
3
0.5
S
3
0.6
S
4
0.3
S
4
0.7
S
4
0.7
S
4
0.4
SW
3
0.9
S
4
0.7
SSW
4
0.5
S
3
Energy kJ
7
31
4
12
15
1
4
9
3
12
14
2
27
15
6
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Distance (km)
807
289
0
289
94
0
699
298
0
435
280
0
504
94
25
84
170
84
435
0
94
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Best forecast wave conditions in United States
Rating
(10 max)
2
3
6
2
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
4
3
2
3
2
1
2
1
1
2
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
6
7
4
5
4
5
4
4
4
9
7
4
8
5
4
5
4
4
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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