Surf Forecasts:
Nags Head Pier surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 9s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 11s period, ESE swell with 78 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 9s 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 9s period. 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 0.6m 11s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore 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 17) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Nags Head Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way for the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – it’s a pretty flat and frustrating run for a good long while.
Right now, the outlook for Nags Head Pier is a bit of a bust. The entire first week looks like a write-off. From now through to around the 22nd, there’s simply no surf worth chasing. The swell is tiny and the energy is weak, with combined swell energy values barely getting above 70 (moderate wave energy). That's basically flat.
The water is sitting at about 83°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. Nice for a swim, not so much for surfing.
We do see a slight flicker of life on Saturday the 22nd. We’ve got some waist-high swell pushing in from the NE at around 3 ft, with periods around 6 seconds. The wind is a light offshore, so the conditions will be clean. It’s surfable but very ordinary. If you’re desperate for a paddle, you could get a few weak ones, but don’t expect much.
The real story, and the only true standout in this entire 16-day window, arrives late in the run. Keep your eye on Wednesday the 26th and Thursday the 27th. We get a solid pulse of groundswell from the ESE, with wave heights around 2 ft to 3 ft. The period jumps up, hitting 12 to 15 seconds. This is real groundswell with proper energy – combined swell energy hits 137 on Wednesday and 151 on Thursday morning. The wind looks clean and offshore, so these breaks should be well-shaped. This is the best surf on offer, but it's a week and a half away, so don't book the time off just yet.
Friday the 28th onwards gets messy again. The wind swings onshore, and while the swell sticks around at 3 ft to 5 ft from the ENE, the strong onshore breeze will chop it all up. By Sunday the 30th, we’re looking at 5 ft waves from the ENE with a period of just 6 seconds and a strong cross-onshore wind. That’s a messy, blown-out mess.
The long and short of it: the first week is flat. There’s a small, clean window on the 22nd for a knee-high paddle, but the real gem is the groundswell around the 26th and 27th. Keep your fingers crossed the forecasts hold.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 32°C on Mon afternoon, min 25°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Mon night, calm by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 30°C on Fri afternoon, min 22°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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) | E 5 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 9 | SE 7 | ESE 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | ESE 9 | NE 6 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 11 | 16 | 9 | 19 | 14 | 32 | 78 | 56 | 33 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 14 | 23 | 15 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 15 | 18 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross | on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy |
High Tide | 11:16PM1.07m | 11:42AM1.18m | 11:58PM0.99m | 12:27PM1.15m | 00:41AM0.92m | 1:14PM1.10m | 1:26AM0.86m | 2:03PM1.06m | 2:15AM0.82m | 2:57PM1.04m | 3:10AM0.80m | 3:53PM1.03m | 4:09AM0.80m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:13PM0.12m | 5:21AM0.12m | 6:01PM0.18m | 6:01AM0.17m | 6:49PM0.25m | 6:41AM0.22m | 7:39PM0.31m | 7:25AM0.26m | 8:32PM0.35m | 8:14AM0.29m | 9:29PM0.37m | 9:08AM0.31m | 10:27PM0.37m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | | |  | | | | |  | | |  | | |  | | |
 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — |
 | 7:51 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 3 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 4 | 2 |
Temp °C | 27 | 27 | 28 | 32 | 31 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 30 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 23 |
Feels °C | 26 | 26 | 30 | 33 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 33 | 32 | 28 | 31 | 33 | 28 | 24 | 26 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | E 5 | SSE 4 | SE 9 | S 5 | ESE 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | NE 4 | NE 6 |
| kJ | 11 | 4 | 3 | 19 | 21 | 32 | 78 | 56 | 33 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 14 | 23 | 15 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 5 | 18 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | E 5 | SE 7 | S 5 | S 6 | — | S 5 | SSE 5 | — | E 7 | SE 5 | E 16 | ESE 8 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 7 | ESE 9 | E 8 |
| kJ | 11 | 16 | 9 | 2 | 14 | 2 | 9 | — | 5 | 3 | — | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 15 | 12 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | — | E 6 | — | E 5 | ESE 12 | — | — | SE 5 | — | — | — | E 6 | E 16 | E 15 | — | E 14 | E 13 | SSE 7 | E 13 |
| kJ | 2 | — | 2 | — | 1 | 14 | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | 4 | — | 4 | 14 | 4 | 13 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 3 | S 4 | WSW 3 | SSE 5 | WSW 4 | NNW 2 | NNE 3 | — | ENE 2 | E 3 | ESE 4 | SE 4 | — | S 3 | S 4 | — | N 4 | NNE 4 | — | SE 6 |
| kJ | 1 | 13 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | — | 2 | 8 | — | 13 | 7 | — | 8 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 871 | 1076 | 1857 | 217 | 430 | 172 | 84 | 105 | 17 | 427 | 31 | 94 | 84 | 1056 | 78 | 1283 | 1409 | 17 | 0 | 0 |
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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