Rodanthe Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it’s Rusty here, and I gotta be straight with you – we’re looking at a pretty flat spell ahead. The next sixteen days are a tough watch for anyone trying to get a wave on the Outer Banks. There's a big gap of nothing worthwhile before we even see a flicker of life.

Let’s start with the bad news. From today, Monday the 20th of July, all the way through to Tuesday the 28th of July, the waves are just a washout. We’re talking tiny, weak, and mostly messy. The wind is howling from the southwest for a lot of that time, or it’s choppy onshore from the northeast. The combined swell energy is pitiful, barely cracking double digits (like 1 to 16), and the swell heights are a measly 0.3 ft to 1 ft. It’s not even worth paddling out for the exercise. Even when the wind drops and it gets glassy, like on Monday afternoon, there’s just no swell to push it.

The only glimmer in this whole outlook comes right at the very end of the period. On Wednesday morning the 29th of July, we finally get a pulse. At Rodanthe Pier, the swell jumps up to 2 ft, coming from the southeast with a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy climbs to 79, which is still weak, but it’s the best we’ve got. The water temp is a warm 81°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. The wind is light from the west-northwest, which is a clean cross-offshore breeze.

The forecast literally says "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions," and that’s the truth. It’s not a standout, it’s just the only thing on the table. The swell is small, so it’s fine for beginners, and the period is short (9 seconds), so it’ll be a bit soft and disorganised. Because the break is a beach/jetty, it’s not going to hold much shape. It’s just a little bump to get wet on if you’re desperate.

After that Wednesday morning, it drops right back down to nothing again for the rest of the first week of August. There’s a long stretch of clear skies and cross-offshore winds, but with swell heights of 0.6 ft to 1 ft and energy barely reaching 44, it’s going to be a flat, sunny, and frustrating time on the beach. No standouts, no real hope. This is a classic summer lull for the Outer Banks.

Stay patient, and maybe check the kite gear if you’re into that sort of thing, because the wind is consistent. But for a surfboard? Not much to report.

Rusty.

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