Rodanthe Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's take a look at what's on the menu for the Outer Banks.

To be straight with you, this is a quiet stretch. We're looking at a solid 16-day window, but there's a big gap of small, weak surf right at the start. The first real chance to get wet doesn't come around until Wednesday the 8th, and even then, it's a marginal call. From now until then, it's flat and not worth the wetsuit.

The most consistent wave on offer is down at Rodanthe Pier, a beach and jetty setup that's well-exposed to any swell that rolls in. The water's sitting about average for the time of year, so nothing wild there.

The only blip of interest comes on Wednesday afternoon, the 8th. We'll see a bump from the ENE pushing in at 3 ft. The combined energy is moderate at 158, which is the most we see in the whole period. The period is a short 10 seconds, so it's a windswell, not a groundswell. The catch is the wind is a cross-on from the NE at 12 mph, so it's going to be choppy. With the swell being under 5 ft, it's still manageable for a beginner, but the bumpy conditions won't make it easy. It's a poor surf quality day, so don't expect anything special.

After that, the waves drop back into the ankle-knocker range. Thursday the 9th has a tiny 2 ft NE swell with a pathetic 6-second period, and the wind is howling from the SSW at 25 mph in the afternoon. The setup gets more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing with that much wind. The rest of the week is a mix of tiny swells, glassy mornings, and messy afternoons, but nothing that even nudges a rideable recommendation.

The second week is dead. From the 11th of July right through to the 21st, we're looking at wave heights mostly under 3 ft, weak energy readings (all under 100), and short periods. Winds are all over the place, but the swell just isn't there. A few mornings look glassy, like the 12th, but with only 1 ft on offer, it's a lake, not surf.

The last day on the list, July 21st, has a tiny 3 ft NE swell, but the energy is a weak 40 and the period is a short 5 seconds. It's a clean cross-off wind, but there's just no power.

So, the honest truth? There's only one day that's even worth a look, and that's Wednesday afternoon the 8th, and it's not great. The rest of this 16-day run is a bust. The forecast shows a consistent lack of energy, so this blank run is pretty normal for the area right now.

Stay patient, the forecasts can change.

Rusty.

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