
Surf Forecasts:
Out Front surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 22 Jul, 5PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 22 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 7s period, S swell with 408 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 18 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period with S 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 Saturday (Jul 18) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 9s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Out Front in the next 16 days are 2.0m 7s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 23) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 5PM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Out Front over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, this is Rusty. Let's take a look at what we've got coming up over the next couple of weeks. To be honest, it's a pretty quiet period overall, with only one real window that looks worth chasing.
The first week and a half is mostly a dud. From now, all the way through to the afternoon of Wednesday, July 22nd, it's a long stretch of tiny surf and poor conditions. There's a bit of energy in the water here and there, but the winds are almost always from the wrong direction—cross-on or onshore—keeping things messy and choppy. We then get a little gap, but the waves stay small until the middle of that Wednesday.
The standout session is the afternoon of Wednesday, July 22nd at Out Front (sandbar). Finally, things line up for a bit. The wind goes offshore from the northwest at a light 9 mph, giving you clean, glassy conditions. The swell hits a solid 6 ft from the south, and the combined energy of all swells directed here is strong at 455. That's proper power for this spot. The period is short at 8 seconds, so it's more of a wind swell, but with that offshore breeze and the size, it's going to produce some fun, punchy waves. It's a sandbar setup, like a beach break, and with the southwest winds we've had during the week, the banks might be shaped up nicely. It is an inconsistent break though, so be ready to wait for the sets, but they'll be worth it. The exposed location is pulling in all the energy, and the south swell direction is close to the optimum ESE direction, which is ideal. This one is too big for beginners, so leave the longboards at home.
Before that, the morning of Sunday, July 19th has a small chance with a 2 ft south swell and a clean offshore from the WNW, but the wave energy is weak at 45, so it'll be small and a bit average.
After that Wednesday afternoon highlight, it's back to tiny waves. The rest of the week and into the start of August sees nothing but small, weak surf—mostly under 3 ft—with onshore or cross-shore winds messing it up. The combined energy drops right off, generally under 100, and conditions are lumpy or choppy. There's no run of consistent, clean waves in sight. This blank run looks pretty standard for the area when the conditions are like this.
So, mark your calendar for the afternoon of Wednesday, July 22nd. That's your chance for a proper surf. Otherwise, it's best to save your energy for another day. Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 29°C on Sat afternoon, min 24°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Sat afternoon, calm by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 30°C on Tue afternoon, min 20°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Tue night, light winds from the NE by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 4 | E 3 | ESE 8 | E 14 | S 5 | SSE 7 | S 6 | S 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | S 7 | SE 4 | S 7 | S 8 | S 7 | SSE 9 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
3 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 53 | 73 | 41 | 23 | 19 | 9 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 17 | 211 | 186 | 303 | 127 | 34 | 30 | 28 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | off | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 11:11AM1.24m | 11:22PM1.32m | 12:05PM1.23m | 00:13AM1.23m | 12:56PM1.22m | 1:04AM1.14m | 1:45PM1.20m | 1:54AM1.05m | 2:33PM1.17m | 2:44AM0.97m | 3:22PM1.15m | 3:37AM0.91m | 4:13PM1.14m | 4:34AM0.89m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:26PM-0.01m | 6:02AM-0.10m | 6:17PM0.06m | 6:47AM-0.03m | 7:09PM0.13m | 7:33AM0.05m | 8:07PM0.20m | 8:23AM0.12m | 9:10PM0.24m | 9:16AM0.18m | 10:11PM0.25m | 10:11AM0.21m | 11:07PM0.23m | ||||||||
5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | |
— | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:20 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:17 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 22 | 24 | 23 |
Feels °C | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 27 | 29 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 20 | 23 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 4 | S 4 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | E 13 | SSE 7 | S 6 | S 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | S 7 | ESE 4 | — | — | S 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 7 | SE 7 | SE 8 |
2 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 73 | 41 | 23 | 19 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 22 | 12 | — | — | 121 | 127 | 34 | 30 | 28 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | E 14 | — | SE 13 | — | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | — | E 12 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 9 | — | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | SSE 7 |
3 | 3 | 4 | — | 7 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | 3 | 6 | 7 | 2 | — | 31 | 48 | 12 | 7 | 4 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 10 | E 14 | E 9 | E 13 | E 8 | E 8 | — | E 10 | E 12 | E 9 | E 12 | E 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 2 | E 3 | SE 3 | S 3 | S 5 | — | — | ENE 2 | — | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | SE 4 | SE 4 | S 7 | S 8 | S 7 | N 3 | NE 3 | NNE 4 | — |
1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 53 | — | — | 1 | — | 9 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 17 | 211 | 186 | 303 | 7 | 2 | 2 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2396 | 1108 | 1116 | 1564 | 160 | 91 | 3 | 157 | 3 | 254 | 462 | 680 | 2226 | 508 | 149 | 629 | 3 | 124 | 124 | 85 | 66 |
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.










