Surf Forecasts:
Rodanthe Pier surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 10s period, ESE swell with 31 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 0.4m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (EDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rodanthe Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at the next couple of weeks for Rodanthe Pier. Gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch. For the first week and a half, we’re looking at a whole lot of nothing. The swell energy is weak, barely ticking over, with values mostly in the teens and twenties (18 to 60 range for most of the first days). The waves are tiny, around 0.6ft to 1ft, and the wind, while often clean or even glassy at times, just can’t make something out of nothing. We’ve got a few days with offshore breezes, and even a glassy morning on Monday the 24th and Sunday the 30th, but the ocean is flat. It’s frustrating.
The water temperature is about average for this time of year, nothing weird going on there.
Now, hang in there. The outlook finally shifts as we head into September. On Wednesday the 2nd of September, things get interesting. We see the combined energy climb to 130 (moderate energy) and the swell bumps up to 2ft from the ESE. It’s still not massive, but after a long drought, this feels like a gift. The morning has a light NNW breeze, making it clean, but the swell period is 11 seconds, giving it a bit of shape. The wind shifts to cross-on in the afternoon, but the morning window looks the best of the whole forecast.
That Wednesday morning is the standout to aim for. It's not a classic, but after days of nothing, it’s the only real chance at a surfable wave. For beginners, that 2ft is just right, and the crowd profile says "sometimes" here, so you might have company, but it won’t be a zoo. The swell direction (ESE) isn’t the perfect NE that Rodanthe Pier likes, but it’ll wrap in okay.
After that little pulse, it drops back into the doldrums. The energy fades off again, with readings down to 14 and 11 by the 4th and 5th of September. The waves shrink back to 0.6ft-1ft.
So, here’s the takeaway: you’ve got a big gap of flatness, then one decent morning on September 2nd. Keep your eye on that Wednesday.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 36mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 29°C on Thu night, min 25°C on Sat afternoon). Winds increasing (calm on Fri night, fresh winds from the SW by Sat night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 36mm), heaviest during Wed morning. Warm (max 28°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Sun night, calm by Mon morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 10 | ESE 11 | E 10 | E 15 | E 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
15 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 28 | 22 | 17 | 18 | 15 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:35AM0.23m | 6:38PM0.23m | 6:08AM0.22m | 7:32PM0.24m | 7:37AM0.22m | 8:25PM0.24m | 8:39AM0.23m | 9:18PM0.25m | 9:29AM0.23m | 10:08PM0.26m | 10:11AM0.23m | 10:52PM0.27m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:36PM0.17m | 12:38PM0.13m | 1:08AM0.17m | 1:41PM0.13m | 2:28AM0.17m | 2:44PM0.13m | 3:35AM0.16m | 3:39PM0.13m | 4:33AM0.16m | 4:28PM0.12m | 5:25AM0.15m | 5:11PM0.12m | |||||||
— | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | |
7:45 | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | |
mm | 7 | — | 1 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | 2 | — | 11 | 19 | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 29 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 27 |
Feels °C | 30 | 31 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 24 | 27 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | NE 4 | NE 6 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SSE 7 | E 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | E 7 | ESE 11 | E 10 | ESE 10 | E 9 |
15 | 13 | 15 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 5 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 1 | 22 | 17 | 18 | 14 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | SE 4 | E 14 | E 9 | E 9 | NE 6 | NNE 6 | SSE 7 | E 12 | SSE 7 | SE 5 | SE 5 | — | E 7 | E 7 | SE 4 | E 16 | E 15 | E 14 |
1 | 1 | 4 | 14 | 14 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 9 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 17 | 15 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 16 | E 15 | — | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | ESE 8 | NE 5 | E 7 | E 7 | SE 5 | — | — | E 6 | SE 4 | E 15 | SE 6 |
5 | 4 | — | 4 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 17 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 3 | — | NNE 3 | — | — | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | SW 3 | SW 3 | — | NW 3 | N 3 | — | — | SE 10 | SW 2 | — | — | — |
8 | — | 4 | — | — | 2 | 9 | 3 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | 28 | 1 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 260 | 409 | 2327 | 3 | 55 | 3 | 264 | 182 | 260 | 3 | 3 | 409 | 281 | 468 | 840 | 3 | 847 | 3 | 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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