Surf Forecasts:
Out Front surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 5s period, S swell with 50 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Out Front this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Out Front in the next 16 days are 1.0m 5s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 4s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Out Front over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for us. It’s gonna be a long wait for anything decent, I won’t sugarcoat it.
For the next week and a half, it’s pretty grim. We’ve got a long dry spell from now all the way through to the end of August. The swell is tiny and the wind is all over the place – mostly onshore or cross-shore. The water temp is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 79°, which is nice for a swim, but there’s just no push in the ocean. You’d be wasting your time paddling out at Out Front for most of this period. The combined wave energy is weak, often below 100, and even when we get a little bump, the conditions are just poor.
Now, things start to look a bit more interesting as we head into September. The first real glimmer comes on the morning of Tuesday, 1st September. It’s still only small, with a 3ft swell from the ENE, but the wind goes glassy. That’s a major positive – glassy conditions are a treat. The energy is still low at 51, so don't expect much, but it’s a sign of life. The afternoon gets a little bigger at 4ft, but the wind swings cross-on and messes it up.
The standout of the entire forecast is shaping up for Thursday, 3rd September. The morning sees a clean 6ft swell from the east with a cross-offshore wind. That’s getting into the territory where beginners might find it a handful, but for anyone with a bit of experience, it’s looking good. The combined energy jumps right up to 604 – that’s moderate to strong energy. The afternoon is even better: the swell holds at a clean 5ft from the east, the wind goes light and cross-off, and the energy bumps up to 639. That is your best bet for the whole period, but keep in mind it’s a long-range call, so keep an eye on it as we get closer.
The following morning on Friday, 4th September the wind gets messy again, so that Thursday window is the one to target.
So, to sum it up: a long, dry gap with nothing on offer, then a promising but distant window around the 3rd of September. It’s not a great run, but that one Thursday could be a real beauty if the forecast holds.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 37mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 28°C on Thu afternoon, min 22°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Thu night, light winds from the ENE by Fri night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 27°C on Sun afternoon, min 20°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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 8 | S 5 | ESE 8 | ENE 5 | NE 6 | E 4 | ENE 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | S 6 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | S 4 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 5 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 19 | 25 | 7 | 19 | 15 | 20 | 7 | 15 | 10 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 24 | 16 | 8 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 6:48AM0.99m | 7:04PM1.22m | 7:31AM1.05m | 7:44PM1.26m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 1:00PM0.17m | 1:42AM0.08m | 1:46PM0.13m | 2:22AM0.03m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — |
 | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — |
mm | — | 6 | — | — | 7 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 2 | 7 | — | — | — | 3 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 28 | 27 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
Feels °C | 27 | 25 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | S 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 4 | ENE 6 | ESE 13 | ENE 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | S 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | ESE 11 | S 4 | ESE 11 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 5 |
| kJ | 18 | 25 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 18 | 6 | 15 | 10 | 15 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 12 | 8 | 11 | 4 | 24 | 16 | 7 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | — | ESE 8 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | E 7 | ESE 11 | S 6 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 |
| kJ | 1 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | — | 6 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 11 | 4 | 9 | 8 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 6 | E 15 | E 15 | SE 4 | ESE 13 | SE 13 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | — | N 4 | — | S 6 | E 7 | E 6 | SE 9 | E 6 | — |
| kJ | — | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 18 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 4 | — | NE 4 | ENE 5 | NE 6 | E 4 | S 3 | — | — | WSW 3 | NW 2 | — | — | S 3 | S 4 | SSE 4 | — | NNE 3 | NE 2 | — |
| kJ | 19 | — | 8 | 19 | 15 | 20 | 3 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 11 | 5 | — | 1 | 1 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 670 | 670 | 1108 | 2534 | 376 | 200 | 134 | 215 | 210 | 222 | 226 | 3 | 41 | 222 | 394 | 428 | 201 | 298 | 463 | 226 |
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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