Nags Head Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, folks, Rusty here. Let's cut through the noise and see what's on offer at Nags Head Pier. To be brutally honest, the next 16 days are a real mixed bag of ordinary, with only a few windows where you might get a damp board. The water's sitting at a warm 81°, which is about average for this time of year, so at least you won't be shivering while you're waiting.

The first half of the period is a struggle. There's a bit of a pulse on Wednesday, 2nd September, but it's not much to write home about. The morning session is the pick of a bad bunch. We've got a 3ft ESE swell, with a period of 10 seconds, and the wind is clean offshore from the W at 12 mph. The combined energy is weak at 116, so it's not going to pack a punch. You'll get some small, clean lines, but it's very ordinary.

Thursday, 3rd September, morning follows a similar, smaller pattern. Another early offshore from the W at 9 mph, with the swell dropping to 2ft from the ESE. The energy is even weaker at 57. It's surfable, but you'll be working for every little bump.

Then we hit a big dry spell. From Friday, 4th September, right through to Saturday, 12th September, the outlook is a total write-off. The swell is tiny, the direction is all over the shop, and the wind is a mess. You'll be looking at a solid week of flat, choppy, or just plain poor conditions. Don't bother.

The next real chance shows up over a week later, on Sunday, 13th September. The morning brings a glimmer of hope. The swell is up to 1ft from the ESE, with a period of 10 seconds, and the wind is offshore again from the W at 12 mph. The combined energy is still weak at 40. It's the same story as before: very ordinary, but at least it's clean. Monday, 14th September, morning is nearly identical – a 1ft ESE swell, 9-second period, and a clean offshore breeze from the W (12 mph). It's a repeat of the same small, clean conditions.

The best waves of the entire period are likely to be the roughest. Around Tuesday, 15th September, the swell jumps up, but it's a raw, lumpy mess. We're looking at 5ft to 6ft from the NNE, but with a short, weak period of 6 seconds. The wind is howling onshore or cross-shore at 22 mph. The energy is moderate (178 to 240), but with that wind and short period, it's going to be a choppy, blown-out battle. This is not for the faint-hearted, and really only for expert surfers willing to take a beating. The setup at Nags Head Pier, being a beach/jetty, looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing on those days.

In short, the best bet is to aim for the clean but tiny mornings of Wednesday, 2nd September, Thursday, 3rd September, Sunday, 13th September, and Monday, 14th September. The standout day for size is Tuesday, 15th September, but it comes with a major wind warning and is for experts only. Don't expect to get your boots wet between the 4th and the 12th.

Rusty.

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