Nags Head Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s see what we’ve got for the Outer Banks over the next couple of weeks. I gotta be straight with you – it’s looking pretty bleak for a while. The first real shot at anything rideable doesn’t pop up until the morning of August 9th, so we’ve got a long dry spell of over a week to sit through before we even get a whisper of a wave.

The only spot on the menu during this whole window is Nags Head Pier (North Carolina). Even when the swell shows up, it’s all very small and weak. Through to the end of the first week of August, we’re dealing with tiny dribbles under 1 foot, mostly from the SE, with periods under 10 seconds – wind is often cross-off or cross-shore, but the wave energy is pathetic, with combined energy values barely reaching double digits. The water is sitting at 77°, which is about 3° cooler than normal for this time of year – so a bit nippy for a summer paddle.

Now, on the morning of Sunday, August 9th, we finally see a pulse. The swell pops up to 3 feet from the NNE, a short-period 5 second windswell. The combined energy jumps to (51), which is still weak, but at least it’s something. The wind is a gentle cross-off from the SW and conditions are clean. The trouble is, the swell direction (NNE) is not what this break loves – it wants it from the NE – and with that low period, it’s going to be a short, fat wave. Not what I’d call a standout, but it’s the only thing on the board all period. After that morning, the afternoon turns cross-shore and choppy, so the window is tight. It’s a lousy run, but for die-hards, that Sunday morning might be worth a look-in for a knee-high grovel.

After that, it’s back to tiny, weak conditions through the second week. The combined energy for the rest of the window stays mostly in the teens and twenties – forgettable stuff. There’s a slight uptick on the 13th of August with a 4-foot ENE swell and combined energy hitting (100), but the wind is onshore and messy, so it’s blown-out. That setup would actually be more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

So, the long and short of it: benchmark the 9th of August morning as your only real chance. It’s not much, but it’s all we’ve got. Forecasts can change, and it doesn’t tend to stay this dead for long around here, so keep checking.

Rusty.

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