Rodanthe Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s happening at Rodanthe Pier. It’s been a tough stretch and honestly, there’s not much to get excited about for a while.

The first half of this forecast is basically a write-off. We’ve got a solid week of poor conditions starting Tuesday the 15th. Waves are small, mostly around 2 ft to 4 ft, and the wind is a cruel cross-onshore, chopping everything up real ugly. There’s a bit of energy in the water – moderate (127) on Tuesday afternoon – but with a short period of 6 seconds, it’s just messy. No point paddling out.

Wednesday the 16th and Thursday the 17th don't get any better. Same story: cross-onshore wind, choppy, weak energy dropping from 149 down to 74. By Friday the 18th, we’re looking at waves barely 2 ft to 2 ft, and the combined energy is weak as a whisper (37). Saturday and Sunday the 19th and 20th are close to flat, with tiny 0.7 ft to 1.0 ft surf. The weekend does clean up though: Sunday afternoon we get a light cross-offshore breeze from the SSW, making for a glassy surface, but there’s just no swell to ride.

Monday the 21st stays small and clean but still not worth it. Then we hit a bit of a run from the 22nd. On Tuesday the 22nd, the swell finally bumps up to 7 ft from the ENE, with a period of 8 seconds. The energy skyrockets to 568, which is solid and moderate. But – there's always a but – it’s coming with a cross-onshore wind from the SSE and rain. The report calls it marginal at best. Wednesday the 23rd is a little better with 6 ft to 6 ft and a cross-shore wind, but still mixed with rain and not clean enough to be a standout.

The one day that looks promising is Thursday the 24th. Morning brings 5 ft of swell from the east with a 9-second period, offering a little more shape. The wind turns light cross-offshore from the WSW, and the water is clean with a mild temperature anomaly – about average for late September. The energy is solid (340). This is the best wave of the whole outlook, but you’ve got to be careful: the afternoon turns messy again with onshore wind.

After that, from Friday the 25th onward, we get a big pulse of swell: 7 ft to 8 ft from the NE, with energy readings over 1000. That’s strong, but it comes with strong cross-onshore winds (22 mph) and light rain. The size is there, but for a spot like Rodanthe Pier, being a beach/jetty setup, it’s going to be closed out and choppy. This is more of a kite-surfing kind of day, to be honest.

The very end of the run, Tuesday the 29th, offers a small window of hope. Morning sees 5 ft from the NNE, but with a short 6-second period. The wind is glassy – 3 mph from the NNE. The energy is only moderate (157), but the clean surface could make for a few fun, small waves for a beginner.

So, to sum it up: there’s really only one moment that stands out as decent, and that’s the morning of Thursday the 24th. Everything else is a mix of poor conditions, blown-out surf, or too big and messy. If you’re itching to paddle out, that Thursday morning is your best bet. Otherwise, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty

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