Rodanthe Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's see what's going on for the Rodanthe Pier area over the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, I gotta be straight with you – for the vast majority of this 16-day window, we are looking at a long, flat, and frustrating stretch. We kick off from Wednesday, July 29th, and right through until Monday, August 10th, the swell is tiny – we’re talking ankle-biters in the 1ft to 2ft range. The wave energy is weak, with most days sitting well below 100 on the energy scale, often in the teens and twenties. The wind is all over the place – sometimes cross-off which keeps it clean, but the waves just don't have the size to make it worth paddling out. There are a few glassy moments on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 4th and the morning of Wednesday, August 5th, with winds dropping to nothing and the water going like a mirror, but the swell is a pathetic 1ft. You'd need a longboard and a lot of patience for that. It’s basically a blank run of poor conditions for over a week and a half.

Now, things finally show a pulse of life starting Tuesday morning, August 11th. That’s the first time we see any real energy, and it comes as a pulse of 4ft NE windswell. The energy jumps to 156, which is moderate. The wind is light from the NNW early, which is a cross-off wind and will keep the surface clean for the morning session. The period is a short 7 seconds, so it’ll be a bit lumpy and sectiony, but it’s surfable. If you're desperate, that Tuesday morning is your best bet, but don't expect anything world-class.

Unfortunately, it doesn't last. The wind swings onshore from the NE that afternoon and ruins it, and the following days see the swell drop back down while the wind picks up from the south. It’s a short-lived window.

So, the true standout – the only real standout – is that Tuesday morning, August 11th at Rodanthe Pier (United States). With that light NNW cross-off wind, you’ll get clean lines on a 4ft NE swell. It's still a short-period windswell, so it won't have the grunt of a groundswell, but it’s the only time in the next two weeks we'll see head-high surf. Expect it to be a bit quick and a little fat on the takeoff. The water temperature is about average for the time of year.

I’d give the rest of the window a miss unless you’re keen on flat spells and glassy puddles. It’s been a tough run, but hang in there – forecasts can always change.

- Rusty

Read more