Surf Forecasts:
Rodanthe Pier surf forecast from 29 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 11s period, ESE swell with 95 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Rodanthe Pier this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Rodanthe Pier in the next 16 days are 0.6m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 03) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rodanthe Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a hard look at what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, this stretch is a real struggle. We’re looking at a long, flat, and blown-out run for the Outer Banks with very little to get excited about. For the first nine days, from Saturday the 29th of August right through to the 6th of September, the surf is basically non-existent. We’re talking tiny waves, mostly around 0.7ft to 1ft with weak energy (mostly in the teens and twenties, barely cracking 80 on the 2nd of September). The wind is all over the place, mostly cross or cross-off, and it’s just not doing us any favours. It’s a grim stretch of poor surf conditions.
There’s a tiny flicker of life on Tuesday the 8th of September. The afternoon shows a little bump of 2ft from the ESE with a period of 12 seconds, bumping the energy up to 169 (moderate). The wind goes light and offshore out of the WSW, which would make it glassy. The report says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” so it’s not a classic, but it’s the best we’ll see for a while.
Then it gets ugly again. Wednesday the 9th has a bit of same-sized swell but a fresh 19 mph offshore wind will have it blown out. By Friday the 11th of September, a chunky 4ft wave shows up from the NNE, but it’s short period (6 seconds) and the wind is a fresh 19 mph cross-shore, making it lumpy and messy. This is a beach/jetty setup, so with that wind and weak, short-period energy, it’s looking more like a kite-surfing day than a paddle-surfing one. The weekend of the 12th and 13th is just more of the same: strong cross-onshore winds and poor surf.
The only standout, and I use that word lightly, is the Rodanthe Pier (United States) on Tuesday afternoon the 8th of September. The swell is a tiny 2ft from the ESE, but the 12-second period gives it a bit of push. The key is the light offshore wind, which will make it clean. The water is a touch warmer than normal at 82°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year. But it’s a small window, and the crowds are sometimes an issue, so you might have some company for those knee-high leftovers.
After that, it’s back to the waiting game. The pattern is poor, but it tends not to stay this flat for too long around here. Forecasts can change.
Stay patient.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sat morning. Warm (max 27°C on Sat morning, min 25°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 30°C on Thu afternoon, min 26°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Tue morning, fresh winds from the SW by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NE 10 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 13 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | NE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | NE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
36 | 22 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 21 | 32 | 95 | 80 | 75 | 43 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 14 | 10 | 12 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | off | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 12:00PM0.23m | 00:15AM0.27m | 12:38PM0.24m | 00:38AM0.28m | 1:18PM0.25m | 1:06AM0.28m | 2:00PM0.25m | 1:42AM0.28m | 2:44PM0.25m | 2:24AM0.28m | 3:32PM0.25m | 3:14AM0.27m | 4:26PM0.25m | 4:14AM0.26m | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:52PM0.13m | 7:59AM0.14m | 7:02PM0.14m | 8:23AM0.14m | 7:07PM0.15m | 8:33AM0.13m | 7:36PM0.16m | 8:38AM0.13m | 8:16PM0.16m | 9:09AM0.13m | 9:01PM0.16m | 9:53AM0.13m | 9:50PM0.16m | ||||||||
6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | |
— | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:24 | — | |
mm | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 27 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 30 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 26 |
Feels °C | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 27 | 30 | 25 | 28 | 32 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | NE 4 | NE 4 | NE 4 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 9 | ESE 9 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | NE 7 |
23 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 15 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 21 | 11 | 95 | 80 | 75 | 43 | 27 | 19 | 26 | 14 | 10 | 12 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | NE 5 | NNE 4 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NE 5 | E 14 | ESE 13 | — | — | SSW 4 | — | NNE 5 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 |
4 | 22 | 14 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 32 | — | — | 4 | — | 2 | 26 | 14 | 13 | 7 | 6 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | — | — | — | — | NE 8 | — | — | SSW 5 | — | S 6 |
8 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 5 | — | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 10 | SSW 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 2 | — | SSW 3 | SW 4 | WSW 3 | — | — | W 3 | SW 2 | WSW 3 | WNW 3 | — | — |
36 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 10 | 2 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 10 | 3 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 152 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1894 | 407 | 3 | 1002 | 3 | 3 | 835 | 95 | 16 | 47 | 140 | 36 | 730 | 141 | 3 | 580 | 150 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Rodanthe Pier Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Rodanthe Pier provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Rodanthe Pier can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Rodanthe Pier 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 (Rodanthe Pier) 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 Rodanthe Pier 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.
Are you planning a vacation in North Carolina? If you are looking for accommodation near Rodanthe Pier, camping, hotels and condos and appartments in North Carolina, consider staying in Cape Hatteras which is 44 km (27 miles) away.











