Rodanthe Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaking for Rodanthe Pier. I’ve gotta be straight with you – this sixteen-day run starts off slow and stays pretty flat for a long stretch. We’re looking at a lot of small, weak windswell and conditions that just won’t line up. The first real glimmer of something doesn’t show up until Thursday, August 13th.

The overall pattern is dominated by tiny swells, mostly under 2ft, with short periods between 6 and 9 seconds. That’s just not enough oomph for anything decent. The winds are mostly cross-off or cross, which keeps the surface clean at times, but with wave energy this low, it’s like trying to ride a ripple. From Saturday, August 1st right through to Wednesday, August 13th, the score is a big fat zero for surfable waves. That’s nearly two weeks of – well, not much. The combined swell energy sits in the teens and twenties for most of that time (like 21 or 24), which is seriously weak stuff.

Now, let’s talk about that one day that’s a little different. Mark your calendars for the afternoon of Thursday, August 13th. We get a tiny 2ft swell from the east, with an 8-second period and the wind goes glassy – absolutely dead calm, zero mph from the northeast. That’s a rare treat for Rodanthe Pier. The combined energy climbs to 83, which is still in the weak range, but it’s the highest we see in the whole outlook. The water is running at 79°, which is about 2° colder than average for this time of year – you’ll notice it, but it’s not a shock. For a beginner-friendly beach/jetty spot, this is your moment to get a few clean, tiny lap-sessions in.

After that, Friday and Saturday the 15th and 16th see a bit of a bump in swell from the NNE, up to 4ft, but the period is a pathetic 5 to 6 seconds – that’s windswell junk. The wind is strong and onshore, making for choppy, lumpy conditions. That’s more interesting for the kite crew than for paddle surfing, honestly. The energy ramps up to 91 on the 15th, but with the poor wind and short period, it’s not going to be pretty.

So, the standout here is the glassy window on Thursday afternoon, August 13th. It’s not big, but it’s clean as a whistle. The only other thing worth mentioning is that the break is “consistent” and crowds are “sometimes” a factor, so if you’re out there on that Thursday, you might have company for those rare clean little waves.

Keep the faith, the forecasts can change. Until then, the board stays on the roof.

Rusty.

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