Surf Forecasts:
Nags Head Pier surf forecast from 8 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 9 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 6s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 8 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 10s period, ENE swell with 197 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 6s period with SE 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 Wednesday (Sep 09) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s. 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 1.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Wed 9th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Wed 9th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Nags Head Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get real about the Outer Banks for the next couple of weeks.
First up, it’s been a quiet stretch and honestly, it’s gonna stay quiet for a while. We’re looking at Nags Head Pier, a solid beach/jetty setup that’s exposed to the NE, but the waves just aren’t showing up with any real energy. The water temp is running pretty average for this time of year, nothing weird going on there.
From now through the first week, we’ve got a whole lot of nothing. Tiny swells, mostly from the E to SE, with heights barely pushing 1 ft to 3 ft. The combined swell energy is weak, mostly under 100 (like 41 to 126), and periods are short, 7 to 9 seconds—just wind chop, really. Winds are all over the place, but mostly cross or onshore, so even the clean moments on Thursday morning and Friday morning with that light cross-off breeze are just too small to matter. It’s a proper dry spell.
Honestly, the only blip on the radar is around Monday, September 14th in the morning. We get a brief window of light offshore wind from the WSW with a 2 ft swell from the ESE at 9 seconds. The energy is weak (48) but the conditions are clean. It’s surfable but very ordinary—definitely not a standout.
Things get a little more interesting heading into Thursday, September 17th. The swell bumps up to 5 ft to 5 ft from the NE, period is a short 6 seconds, but the combined energy climbs to 180 and 181—moderate energy finally. The problem? It’s coming in with a cross-onshore wind, so expect lumpy, choppy conditions and poor surf quality. At that size with the short period and onshore breeze, this is more of a mess than a session. It’s still only for intermediate or better surfers if you’re desperate.
The rest of the second week stays poor. Swells stay under 4 ft, winds stay messy from N and NE, and the occasional rain and thunderstorms just add to the gloom. No standouts. No real windows. Just flat and frustrated.
Honestly, if you’re itching for anything, maybe look at the kite setup if the wind cranks, because paddle surfing is not gonna give you much love.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Thu afternoon, min 23°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Wed morning, fresh winds from the SSW by Thu afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 27°C on Sat morning, min 25°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Thu night, light winds from the SE by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 6 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | NE 8 | NE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | S 4 | SE 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | NE 5 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 52 | 110 | 71 | 30 | 18 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 26 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 25 | 32 | 35 | 38 | 52 | 49 | 46 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | on | cross |
High Tide | 5:35AM1.02m | 6:07PM1.24m | 6:32AM1.09m | 7:00PM1.23m | 7:23AM1.17m | 7:49PM1.22m | 8:11AM1.22m | 8:35PM1.18m | 8:55AM1.26m | 9:18PM1.13m | 9:37AM1.27m | 9:58PM1.07m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:36PM0.16m | 11:39AM0.11m | 00:29AM0.12m | 12:40PM0.07m | 1:16AM0.09m | 1:34PM0.04m | 2:00AM0.07m | 2:25PM0.03m | 2:41AM0.06m | 3:13PM0.04m | 3:19AM0.08m | 3:58PM0.08m | 3:57AM0.11m | ||||||
 |  | | | | | | | | | | |  | |  |  | |  |  | |
 | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — |
 | 7:22 | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:19 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:14 | — | — | 7:13 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 5 |
Temp °C | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 29 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 |
Feels °C | 22 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 26 | 27 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 9 | SE 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NE 5 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 |
| kJ | 52 | 110 | 71 | 16 | 16 | 8 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 16 | 11 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 38 | 52 | 49 | 46 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | ENE 9 | NE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 9 | ESE 9 | ENE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 7 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | NE 5 | E 5 | ENE 5 | E 4 |
| kJ | 6 | 9 | 9 | 30 | 18 | 17 | 8 | 16 | 8 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 32 | 35 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | NE 6 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ENE 9 | — | E 8 | WSW 3 | E 8 | ESE 9 | — | E 9 | E 8 | SSE 4 | E 7 | — |
| kJ | — | 7 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 16 | 8 | 8 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | S 3 | SW 3 | S 4 | SSW 4 | WNW 3 | NNE 3 | — | — | S 3 | SSE 3 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 50 | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 3 | 26 | 38 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 5 | 6 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 254 | 105 | 435 | 17 | 17 | 435 | 435 | 309 | 296 | 94 | 43 | 592 | 634 | 1077 | 1077 | 0 | 78 | 43 | 17 |
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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