Surf Forecasts:
Nags Head Pier surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 22 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 6s period, S swell with 215 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Nags Head Pier this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Nags Head Pier in the next 16 days are 1.9m 6s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 8s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Nags Head Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty here, and I’ve got to be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for Nags Head Pier. The whole 16-day window is a tough one, with a long stretch of nothing really worth paddling out for. The first solid recommendation doesn't come until Saturday morning, July 25th, so we’re looking at a solid week of flat or poor conditions before we even get a sniff.
The first surfable waves show up on the morning of Saturday, July 25th. The swell is weak, coming in at just 2ft from the ESE with a period of 9 seconds, and the combined energy is a meager 72 – it’s weak. The water temperature is about 80°F, which is pretty normal for the time of year. The wind is light from the N, keeping it clean, but it’s a cross-offshore breeze. The report says "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions," which is about as generous as I can be. It’s a small, weak wave for the intermediate surfer, and the pier is a beach/jetty setup. It’s not going to be a standout, but it’s the only shot you’ve got that morning.
After that, it’s back to the same old story. The rest of the 16-day period is filled with tiny, weak swells and messy onshore winds. The overall energy is low, and the quality is poor. There are no big standouts, no perfect days. The only real highlight is a brief push of energy around Tuesday, July 28th, where the swell hits 5ft from the ENE with a period of 6 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 219. But don’t get too excited – the wind is a cross-shore, and it’s a messy, short-period windswell. That’s going to be a lumpy, choppy mess at the pier, and really only for the experts given the size and cruddy shape. The period is short, too, so it won’t have any real punch.
Honestly, for the whole forecast, the setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer. The wind is strong and cross-shore on many days, and the wave quality is consistently poor.
Keep your eyes on the forecast, but don’t hold your breath. This is one of those stretches where the ocean just doesn’t want to cooperate.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 46mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 31°C on Sat afternoon, min 24°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri morning, strong winds from the SSW by Sat night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 100mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 31°C on Tue afternoon, min 24°C on Mon morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the SE on Mon afternoon, strong winds from the SSW by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | SE 8 | SE 8 | NE 5 | SE 8 | S 4 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | NNE 5 | NE 5 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 13 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 30 | 30 | 8 | 28 | 36 | 95 | 80 | 16 | 16 | 103 | 60 | 53 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:41AM1.13m | 11:04PM1.24m | 11:33AM1.14m | 11:52PM1.14m | 12:24PM1.14m | 00:39AM1.05m | 1:13PM1.13m | 1:24AM0.97m | 2:02PM1.11m | 2:10AM0.90m | 2:51PM1.09m | 2:58AM0.85m | 3:40PM1.08m | 3:47AM0.82m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:46PM0.07m | 5:22AM0.07m | 5:41PM0.12m | 6:06AM0.11m | 6:36PM0.18m | 6:49AM0.15m | 7:29PM0.24m | 7:31AM0.19m | 8:22PM0.29m | 8:14AM0.22m | 9:15PM0.33m | 8:59AM0.25m | 10:09PM0.35m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | |  |  |  | | | | | |  | |  | | | | | |
 | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — |
 | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:16 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 43 | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 8 | 88 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 28 | 31 | 26 | 24 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 23 |
Feels °C | 33 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 27 | 29 | 33 | 28 | 25 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 25 | 28 | 30 | 26 | 19 | 18 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 |
| kJ | 13 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 42 | 55 | 43 | 30 | 30 | 37 | 28 | 18 | 95 | 80 | 16 | 120 | 22 | 29 | 53 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 10 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | SSE 4 | NNE 4 | NE 4 | NE 5 | NE 4 | ENE 4 | — | — | — | ESE 9 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 7 |
| kJ | — | — | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | 16 | 35 | 12 | 9 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | — | — | — | WSW 4 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSW 2 | S 3 | S 4 | SSW 5 | WSW 4 | SW 2 | SW 3 | — | — | — | — | S 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | S 8 | N 3 | NNE 5 | NE 5 | NE 5 |
| kJ | — | — | 1 | 5 | 27 | 61 | 10 | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 36 | 88 | 69 | 339 | 1 | 103 | 60 | 22 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2217 | 1275 | 1283 | 1734 | 372 | 94 | 17 | 11 | 17 | 43 | 654 | 871 | 2029 | 699 | 360 | 824 | 94 | 11 | 189 | 298 | 170 |
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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