Surf Forecasts:
Nags Head Pier surf forecast from 27 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 27 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 8s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 9s period, SE swell with 336 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 27 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 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 Monday (Jul 27) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 6s. 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 1.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.2m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Mon 27th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Mon 27th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Nags Head Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's take a good hard look at what we've got coming for Nags Head Pier.
Honestly, it’s a tough stretch on the Outer Banks right now. We’re looking at a long, flat, and frustrating run for at least the first couple of weeks. The wave energy just isn't there for quality paddle surfing. The water temperature is sitting at 78°, which is about 3° cooler than we'd expect for this time of year, so a bit of a chill in the air.
The first real chance at anything rideable doesn't show up until late in the game. From now until August 9th, the forecast is a graveyard of tiny, weak swells and messy winds. We’ve got swells barely scraping 3ft at times, but the period is short and weak. The combined wave energy barely ever cracks 100, making it feel like a lake most days. There's a period with some clean windows, especially around the 4th and 5th of August with glassy conditions, but there’s simply no swell to push the surf up. It’s a classic case of calm water but no waves.
The real standout, and I mean the *only* standout in this entire 16-day window, is Nags Head Pier. We have to wait until Sunday the 9th of August and Monday the 10th. On the 9th, we get a light offshore wind from the west with a small 2ft ENE swell coming in at 9 seconds. The combined energy is 55, which is still weak, but the wind will be clean. On the 10th, it improves a bit with a moderate offshore wind from the west, stronger, still that same 2ft ENE swell. The rating jumps to a 1 out of 10 – not exactly a pumping session, but the best we'll see. The sets will be small and gutless, but with the offshore wind, it’ll be clean enough for a longboard or a fun fish.
Beyond that, it’s a total bust. The waves are so small and the energy so low that anyone looking for a proper surf should probably take up kiting, because the beach setup with these tiny cross-onshore ripples is a kiteboarder’s dream, not a surfer's.
To be blunt, if you don't have a kite, save your energy for something else. The surf will be absent for days on end.
Stay patient,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 81mm), heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 27°C on Tue afternoon, min 23°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SE on Sun night, fresh winds from the SSW by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 29°C on Sat afternoon, min 23°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | NE 6 | E 9 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | N 4 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 33 | 33 | 33 | 30 | 22 | 22 | 2 | 7 | 41 | 35 | 36 | 31 | 23 | 9 | 30 | 22 | 16 | 12 | 19 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:22AM0.84m | 6:56PM1.14m | 7:10AM0.87m | 7:40PM1.16m | 7:56AM0.91m | 8:22PM1.17m | 8:40AM0.96m | 9:01PM1.17m | 9:22AM1.01m | 9:40PM1.16m | 10:03AM1.06m | 10:19PM1.14m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:41AM0.31m | 12:17PM0.23m | 1:26AM0.28m | 1:05PM0.21m | 2:07AM0.24m | 1:52PM0.19m | 2:46AM0.21m | 2:38PM0.18m | 3:23AM0.18m | 3:22PM0.17m | 3:58AM0.15m | 4:07PM0.17m | 4:34AM0.13m | ||||||
 |  | |  | | | | | | | | |  | | | | |  |  | |
 | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — |
 | 8:12 | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — |
mm | — | 2 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 68 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 23 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 27 |
Feels °C | 23 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 29 | 28 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | NE 6 | ESE 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | NE 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 |
| kJ | 24 | 16 | 33 | 30 | 22 | 22 | 2 | 49 | 41 | 35 | 36 | 31 | 23 | 13 | 30 | 22 | 16 | 12 | 5 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | E 9 | N 4 | N 4 | E 8 | NNE 4 | N 4 | E 9 | SE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 33 | 33 | 12 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 6 | E 9 | E 9 | NE 6 | E 8 | E 8 | NE 7 | ESE 9 | E 9 | ESE 9 | SE 6 | E 6 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 3 | S 3 | S 4 | SSW 3 | S 6 | NW 3 | — | — | N 3 | — | WSW 2 | N 4 | — | — | SE 6 | SSE 3 | SSE 4 |
| kJ | — | — | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 360 | 3 | — | — | 5 | — | 1 | 9 | — | — | 10 | 7 | 19 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 655 | 17 | 493 | 43 | 1172 | 217 | 43 | 170 | 0 | 84 | 170 | 43 | 43 | 395 | 254 | 17 | 684 | 427 |
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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