Surf Forecasts:
Out Front surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 11s period, SE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 11s period, ESE swell with 65 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 11s period with SE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Out Front this week:
The surf forecast for Out Front over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 4s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Out Front in the next 16 days are 0.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Tue 25th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Out Front over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Grab a coffee, or maybe a beer, and let’s have a look at the next 16 days.
Honestly, I gotta be straight with you – this is a tough stretch. We’re lookin’ at a long, dry period where there’s just about nothin’ worth paddlin’ out for. It's gonna be a bit of a waiting game. From now until the end of August, it’s pretty much a dead zone. Small, weak junky swell and winds that just won’t play nice. You’d be fighting cross-shore breezes and tiny waves that barely have any push. There are a few glassy mornings, but with only 1ft of swell and weak energy (around 33 on the meter), you’re better off takin’ the dog for a walk. The water temp is sittin’ at a warm 79°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – that’s about the only highlight.
Then, we get a bit of a flicker on the 27th of August. Thursday morning at Out Front, we see a pulse of swell from the south, comin’ in at 4ft. The combined energy jumps to a moderate 218. The wind is a clean cross-off from the north, so it’ll look pretty glassy. The period is short though, only 6 seconds, so expect a bit of a crumbly wave. It’s not a standout, but after a week of nothing, it’s the first sign of life. It’s still just a marginal call, but at least the winds are in our favour.
The real standout, the one you need to circle on your calendar, is the first couple of days of September. The 1st of September, Tuesday morning, is where it’s at. Out Front gets a solid pulse of easterly swell, standing at 6ft. The combined energy? We’re talkin’ 489, which is a serious step up. That’s a lot of water moving around. Even though it’s 6ft, it’s lookin’ a bit much for beginners, but for the rest of us, that’s a good sign. The wind is a clean cross-off from the north, making for some clean, lined-up sets. The period is 8 seconds, so it’ll be a bit walled-up, but with that much energy and clean conditions, it’s the best on offer by a long shot. The afternoon gets a bit windier, so pencil in the morning session.
After that little burst, the swell drops back down and the winds get messy again for the rest of the second week. It’s a short window, but that Tuesday morning on the 1st has some real potential if the long-range forecast holds.
Stay patient, keep your eye on the charts, and I’ll see you out there if that September swell shows up.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Thu night. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 23°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 60mm), heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 28°C on Sun night, min 21°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat morning, fresh winds from the WSW by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SE 7 | SE 9 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 5 | NE 4 | ENE 4 | E 4 | E 4 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | S 4 | S 5 | S 5 | ESE 12 | SE 6 | SE 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 13 | 20 | 40 | 33 | 21 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 16 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 12 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross | on | cross | cross-on | off | cross-off | on | on |
High Tide | 1:05PM1.19m | 1:19AM1.00m | 1:53PM1.15m | 2:09AM0.93m | 2:41PM1.11m | 3:02AM0.89m | 3:33PM1.09m | 4:00AM0.87m | 4:30PM1.10m | 5:01AM0.88m | 5:26PM1.12m | 5:58AM0.93m | 6:19PM1.17m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:27PM0.20m | 7:32AM0.19m | 8:26PM0.26m | 8:25AM0.25m | 9:30PM0.29m | 9:27AM0.29m | 10:32PM0.28m | 10:28AM0.29m | 11:26PM0.24m | 11:23AM0.26m | 00:14AM0.20m | 12:13PM0.22m | 00:59AM0.14m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  | |  |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — |
 | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — |
mm | — | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 8 | — | — | 32 | 1 | — | 18 | 3 | — | 6 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 22 | 24 | 24 |
Feels °C | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 29 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 26 | 21 | 24 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 7 | SE 9 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 3 | ESE 8 | S 5 | SSE 4 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | E 4 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | S 4 | ENE 6 | S 5 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 |
| kJ | 13 | 20 | 40 | 33 | 21 | 12 | 2 | 7 | 16 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 17 | 6 | 10 | 9 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 12 | NE 4 | — | — | — | ESE 8 | S 3 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | S 4 | SE 4 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ENE 6 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 |
| kJ | 3 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | 7 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 5 | SE 5 | E 6 | E 15 | SE 5 | E 14 | SE 14 | E 8 | SSE 4 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | NE 4 | E 7 |
| kJ | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | S 3 | SSW 3 | — | — | NE 4 | ENE 4 | E 4 | SSE 3 | S 3 | S 4 | S 4 | S 5 | — | NNE 3 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | 12 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 20 | 18 | — | 2 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 200 | 462 | 3 | 41 | 670 | 284 | 327 | 670 | 640 | 1108 | 408 | 376 | 41 | 200 | 330 | 243 | 621 | 41 | 3 | 76 | 186 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Virginia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Out Front Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Out Front provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Out Front can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Out Front 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 (Out Front) 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 Out Front 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.
Out Front is 55 km (34 miles) from Ocean City. If you plan a vacation in Virginia, look for hotels and other accommodation in Ocean City. Ocean City has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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