Rodanthe Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the menu for the Hatteras area.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim. We’ve got a solid 16-day window of forecasts here, and honestly, it’s a tough one. There's a big gap of flat, junk conditions right at the start. From Tuesday, the 4th of August, all the way through to the end of the first week, the wave energy is just pitiful, sitting down in the 20s and 30s (combined energy of all swells directed here). It’s ankle-snappers at best, with a tiny 1ft to 2ft of weak, short-period ESE swell. The wind is a mess too – mostly cross-off from the SSW, but it’s blowing 12 to 22 mph, which is just going to shred whatever little crumble we have. The water temp is a balmy 80°F, which is pretty much average for this time of year, so at least you won't freeze waiting for a wave.

The second week doesn't offer much hope either. The swell stays tiny, rarely cracking 2ft, and the energy stays low. The closest we get to anything interesting is around the 13th of August, where we get a brief window of clean conditions with a light offshore wind from the west, but the swell is still only 0.7ft. It's a classic case of "clean but flat." Then things get ugly again with onshore winds from the NE picking up big time, blowing 15 to 22 mph, which is just a recipe for choppy, bumpy conditions.

The standout here is about as close to a non-event as you can get. The best of the best, if you can even call it that, is Rodanthe Pier. It's a beach/jetty setup that's consistent, but for a beginner. The one tiny window that might be worth a paddle is on the morning of Thursday, the 13th of August. We’ve got a clean 0.7ft swell from the ESE with a light offshore wind from the west, which is a major positive for cleanliness. The period is a short 8 seconds, so it's not going to have any punch, but for a longboard and a bit of patience, it's your best shot. The crowds are a possibility there, but with swell this small, I doubt many will show.

For the rest of the 16 days, it's a blank run. With this kind of persistent wind and tiny swell, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. It tends not to stay this poor for too long, but forecasts can change, so keep an eye on it.

Stay safe, and don't get your hopes up.

Rusty.

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