Surf Forecasts:
Nags Head Pier surf forecast from 31 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 2 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 10s period, ESE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 11s period, ESE swell with 135 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 2 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 10s 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 Wednesday (Sep 02) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 4s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Nags Head Pier in the next 16 days are 0.8m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 03) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Nags Head Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's take a look at what's on the table for the Outer Banks, specifically around Nags Head Pier.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this is a tough stretch. The whole 16-day window is looking pretty flat and unappealing. We're talking about a long, dry spell with hardly any swell to get excited about. The water is sitting at 81°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, so at least a dip won't be a shock to the system.
The first hint of anything surfable doesn't show up until Wednesday, September 2nd. Even then, it's not much to write home about. Wednesday morning brings a small 3ft ESE swell with a period of 10 seconds, and the combined energy is a modest 118. The wind is offshore from the WSW, which is a positive, keeping things clean. But honestly, the wave comment says it all: "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions." It's a 1 out of 10 kind of day. The best swell direction for Nags Head Pier is from the NE, and this ESE swell is off-angle, so shape will be lacking.
After that brief tease, it's right back to nothing. The rest of the first week and into the second week is a total blank. We get a few tiny pulses of 1ft to 1ft ESE swell, but it's mostly blown out by strong onshore winds from the NE, or just too small to do anything. The combined energy barely scratches 100 on most days.
One date to maybe, *maybe* keep an eye on is Friday, September 11th. The morning shows a 1ft ESE swell, a light cross-offshore wind from the SW, and it's clean. The energy is only 46, so it's weak, but it's the only other slot that gets a "surfable" tag. It's a long shot.
So, the bottom line: there are no good surf options in this 16-day window. The area is known for being consistent, so this is a bit of a rare, flat run. Don't hold your breath. Forecasts can change, but right now, it's a time to work on your tan or find something else to do.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Wed morning. Warm (max 30°C on Tue afternoon, min 25°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Fri night. Warm (max 33°C on Thu afternoon, min 23°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Wed afternoon, fresh winds from the WSW by Thu night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | ||||||||||||||
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 7 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 13 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | NE 5 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 27 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 12 | 33 | 128 | 116 | 100 | 65 | 45 | 43 | 27 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 29 | 22 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:53PM1.12m | 10:16AM1.24m | 10:35PM1.09m | 11:02AM1.26m | 11:21PM1.04m | 11:51AM1.27m | 00:11AM0.99m | 12:46PM1.25m | 1:07AM0.95m | 1:47PM1.23m | 2:12AM0.92m | 2:53PM1.22m | 3:21AM0.92m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:48PM0.09m | 3:58AM0.08m | 4:34PM0.09m | 4:38AM0.08m | 5:23PM0.11m | 5:22AM0.09m | 6:16PM0.14m | 6:12AM0.11m | 7:15PM0.18m | 7:08AM0.14m | 8:20PM0.21m | 8:12AM0.16m | 9:29PM0.21m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | |  | |  | | |  | |  | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — |
 | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:24 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 6 | — | 2 | 7 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 30 | 28 | 27 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 33 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
Feels °C | 29 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 28 | 33 | 28 | 28 | 32 | 27 | 25 | 21 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | NE 5 |
| kJ | 7 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 12 | 20 | 128 | 116 | 100 | 65 | 45 | 43 | 27 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 22 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | NE 4 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NE 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 13 | — | NW 4 | — | — | NE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | E 7 | S 5 | NNE 4 | E 7 | SE 9 | ESE 8 |
| kJ | 27 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 33 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 12 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 14 | E 8 | — | — | — | — | NW 4 | — | S 5 | E 7 | — | S 6 | SW 5 | E 7 | ESE 9 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 6 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SSW 3 | — | S 3 | SSW 3 | SW 3 | SSW 3 | SSW 4 | SW 3 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | W 3 | N 4 | — | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 7 | 18 | 28 | 6 | 7 | — | 13 | 29 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1185 | 43 | 996 | 1076 | 43 | 43 | 1171 | 17 | 0 | 1171 | 280 | 109 | 254 | 254 | 245 | 430 | 239 | 1705 | 2510 | 1857 |
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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