Rodanthe Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve had a good look at the charts for the next 16 days, and honestly, it’s a tough one for the Outer Banks. The whole forecast period is a bit of a flat spell with hardly any energy to speak of. We’re looking at a long stretch of poor surf conditions, so don’t get your hopes up for anything epic.

Right now, starting Thursday the 23rd, it’s a write-off. Tiny waves around 1ft to 1ft from the ESE with a short period of 8 seconds, and the combined swell energy is a measly 17 to 18 (weak). To make matters worse, there’s a risk of thunderstorms and a moderate cross-offshore breeze making it messy. That continues through the week.

Friday the 24th afternoon sees a tiny bump, with the swell just touching 3ft from the SE and the wind going glassy calm. The combined energy hits 102 (moderate), but the call is still “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” It’s not enough to get excited about. Saturday the 25th is a definite no-go with a fresh cross-shore wind and only 3ft of weak, short-period swell from the NNE.

The entire first week, right through to the 31st, is a mix of cross-shore winds, light onshores, and tiny swell. The combined energy rarely gets above 60 (weak). It’s the kind of period where you’d be better off checking the wind for a kite session than paddling out.

There’s a bit of a breather on Monday the 3rd of August. The morning looks glassy calm with 2ft from the SE and a combined energy of 74 (weak). Again, it’s surfable but very ordinary. By Monday afternoon, the wind picks up.

The biggest bump in the whole window shows up on Wednesday the 5th of August. The afternoon brings 4ft from the NE, with a short period of 6 seconds, and the combined energy hits 103 (moderate). The wind is cross-offshore from the SSW, which is clean. It’s still not a standout, but it’s the best we’ve got. For a beginner spot, this is about the limit of what’s manageable. The crowd at Rodanthe Pier can be a factor sometimes, so expect a few others with the same idea.

Honestly, there’s no true standout here. The water temp is about 80°, which is pretty normal for this time of year. The long-range stuff from the 5th to the 7th of August is clean but tiny, with the swell dropping back to 2ft.

It’s a flat run, folks. The good news is that this area is fairly consistent, so it rarely stays this poor for long. Forecasts can change.

Rusty.

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