Rodanthe Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. I’ve had a look at the charts for our stretch of coast, and I’ll be honest – it’s a tough one. We’re staring down a long, quiet spell that’s going to test the patience of even the most dedicated surfer.

The outlook starts with a brief window of small, junky surf on Monday, August 3rd, but it’s pretty much a write-off. The water is a warm 80°F – that’s about normal for the time of year, a nice bonus if you’re just floating around. But that’s where the positives end.

The first session to talk about is Monday morning at Rodanthe Pier. We’ve got a tiny 3 ft SE swell, but it’s coming in at a short period of 8 seconds, which means it’s disorganised and weak. The combined energy is a measly 75, so it’s just not packing any punch. The wind is a cross-off, but it’s a fresh 19 mph from the SSW, which is just too strong to keep it clean. It’s a “risk tstorm” morning, and the surf is poor. Honestly, for beginners, this is barely paddling material, and for anyone else, it’s not worth the wax.

Things get even worse by Monday afternoon, with the swell dropping to 0.3 ft. The wind picks up to 22 mph, and the energy is down to a pathetic 3. It’s dead.

From Tuesday, August 4th, all the way through to Sunday, August 16th, we’re in a serious drought. The swell barely crawls above 2 ft, with periods mostly stuck between 6 and 8 seconds. The combined energy never gets out of the two-digit range, staying weak day after day. The wind is mostly a cross-off, but it’s often a fresh breeze, which just adds chop to an already flat ocean. The only silver lining is that the wind is occasionally clean, but there’s simply nothing to ride.

There is a little flicker of hope on the morning of August 16th. We get a 2 ft NE swell with a 5-second period, but the wind is a strong 19 mph from the SW, making it a cross-off. It’s still poor. The afternoon of the 16th sees a glassy 1 ft with a light offshore WNW wind, but the swell is short-period and tiny. Not a stand-out, just a slight tease.

The best, and really the only, chance for a surf comes on Tuesday, August 18th. The morning shows a 1 ft ESE swell with a period of 9 seconds, and the combined energy finally climbs to 41. The wind is a light 9 mph cross-off from the SW, which should keep it clean. This is a true “last chance” scenario, but the swell is still very small. It’s a survive-and-grab-a-ride session, not a classic.

So, where’s the standout? There isn’t one. The entire 16-day window is a poor run. The setup at Rodanthe Pier (Hatteras Island) is a beach/jetty, and with the wind blowing strong and the swell so weak, it’s more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer. The crowds are only “sometimes” an issue here, but that’s not a selling point when there’s no waves.

To sum it up: we’ve got a long, flat gap from Monday afternoon until the 18th. The only day to even check is Tuesday, August 18th, and only if you’re desperate for a tiny, clean wave. This is one of those stretches where you’re better off fixing your gear and waiting for the next system. Forecasts can always change, but right now, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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