Surf Forecasts:
Rodanthe Pier surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 12s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 9s period, E swell with 56 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 12s period with SE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Rodanthe Pier this week:
The surf forecast for Rodanthe Pier over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 12s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Rodanthe Pier in the next 16 days are 0.6m 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rodanthe Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at what this 16-day stretch is serving up. I’ll be honest, it’s a lean run. We’re looking at a long, quiet period where the ocean just isn’t giving us much to work with.
For the next week and a half, from Sunday the 16th of August all the way through to early on Thursday the 27th, it’s mostly flat or tiny, weak dribble. The combined swell energy is low – we’re seeing two-digit numbers between 13 and 69, which is pretty weak (13). There are days with glassy conditions, like Thursday morning the 20th with that calm wind, but the swell is only 1.0 ft – you’d be scratching for anything. There’s a bit of a bump on Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th with some windswell, but the period is short (6-10 seconds) and winds are fresh and onshore, making it choppy and lumpy. That’s more of a kite-surfing setup with that cross-onshore breeze than a fun paddle session.
The first real flicker of hope arrives on Thursday the 27th of August. The morning at Rodanthe Pier sees a modest bump: swell height hits 2 ft from the E, with a period of 12 seconds – that’s a proper groundswell pulse. The combined energy jumps to 134 (moderate). The wind is a clean cross-offshore from the NNW at 9 mph, which will groom it nicely. This is a consistent spot and is exposed to the NE, and the swell direction is straight out of the E, so it’s matching up. It’s a beginner-friendly break, and while the crowd can be there *sometimes*, a mid-week morning might keep it quiet. This Thursday morning is your standout – it’s the best the 16 days have to offer. The water temperature is sitting at 82°, which is about 2° warmer than average, so it’s pretty normal for this time of year. Just don’t expect much else from the rest of the period, as the swell fades again quickly into the final days.
Stay hopeful, the forecasts can always shift.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Mon morning. Warm (max 29°C on Mon afternoon, min 25°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Mon night, calm by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Fri night. Warm (max 29°C on Thu afternoon, min 23°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu morning, fresh winds from the SW by Fri afternoon). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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) | E 5 | S 3 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 13 | NE 6 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
11 | 7 | 8 | 16 | 17 | 35 | 46 | 33 | 29 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | on |
High Tide | 1:43AM0.26m | 2:55PM0.22m | 2:13AM0.25m | 3:53PM0.22m | 2:49AM0.25m | 4:50PM0.23m | 3:34AM0.24m | 5:44PM0.23m | 4:35AM0.23m | 6:38PM0.23m | 6:08AM0.22m | 7:32PM0.24m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:24PM0.13m | 9:35AM0.11m | 9:03PM0.14m | 10:14AM0.11m | 9:42PM0.16m | 10:55AM0.12m | 10:26PM0.16m | 11:41AM0.12m | 11:36PM0.17m | 12:38PM0.13m | 1:08AM0.17m | 1:41PM0.13m | 2:28AM0.17m | |||||||
— | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | |
7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:43 | — | |
mm | — | 1 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | 3 | — | 1 | 2 | — | 2 | 9 | — | 2 | 5 |
Temp °C | 27 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 24 | 24 | 25 |
Feels °C | 27 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 33 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 30 | 23 | 25 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | ENE 4 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | NE 4 | NE 6 |
11 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 17 | 20 | 46 | 33 | 29 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 4 | 8 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | E 6 | E 5 | SE 6 | ESE 12 | S 5 | NNE 3 | S 5 | SE 5 | SE 5 | E 3 | E 3 | SE 4 | SSE 4 | E 14 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | E 8 | E 8 |
7 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 12 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | E 8 | SSE 4 | E 14 | E 5 | SE 12 | — | NNE 3 | SE 5 | — | SW 5 | SE 5 | — | E 16 | E 15 | — | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | SE 5 |
2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 35 | — | 1 | 5 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 5 | 4 | — | 4 | 14 | 14 | 4 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 2 | S 3 | WSW 3 | S 2 | SW 4 | WNW 2 | NNE 3 | — | NE 3 | ENE 3 | E 3 | — | — | S 2 | SSW 3 | S 5 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | SSE 7 | — |
1 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 2 | — | 2 | 3 | 6 | — | — | 1 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 7 | 5 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2327 | 141 | 295 | 376 | 3 | 0 | 26 | 3 | 260 | 472 | 468 | 850 | 638 | 850 | 638 | 1057 | 44 | 150 | 44 | 3 |
Best forecast wave conditions in North Carolina | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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