Rodanthe Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's happening for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, I have to be straight with you – it’s a pretty grim stretch for Rodanthe Pier. We’re looking at a solid two-week run with very little to get excited about. The surf is going to be small and pretty ordinary for the vast majority of the time. The combined swell energy stays weak, mostly in the teens to low sixties, and the wave heights just aren't there.

The first week is a real write-off. From Thursday the 27th right through to the end of August, we’re dealing with tiny, weak waves. The swell is barely a whisper, and what’s there is getting messed up by onshore winds. The water temp is about average for the time of year, but you won’t care about that when you’re staring at a flat ocean. We’ve got a few mornings with a cross-off breeze, like on Monday the 31st, but the swell is only 1ft with a short period, so it’s just not worth paddling out for.

The only glimmer of hope, and I mean a tiny glimmer, comes on Wednesday the 2nd of September. The morning sees a little pulse of swell push through, with 2ft from the east at an 11-second period. The combined energy hits 86 – still weak, but it’s the best we’ve got. With a gentle, clean cross-off breeze from the SW, it’ll be the cleanest the surf looks all week. It’s surfable, but you’ll be scratching for waves.

After that, it’s back to the doldrums. The 4th of September sees a bump in size with a NE swell pushing 5ft, but the period is a short, weak 7 seconds and the wind is hammering onshore. The combined energy jumps to 249 (moderate), but the conditions are going to be a mess, with a fresh cross-onshore making it lumpy and choppy. Honestly, this looks more like a day for the kite surfers than the paddle crew.

The second week continues the same sad story. More small, weak swells and onshore winds. There’s a couple of days around the 5th and 6th of September with a bit more size (4ft and 3ft) and a longer period, but the wind is just ruining it. The swell energy is moderate (335 on the 5th morning), but the quality is poor. It’s just not going to be a good time.

So, to sum it up: if you're desperate for a paddle, Wednesday the 2nd of September morning is your best bet for the cleanest conditions, even if the waves are tiny. For anything with a bit more push, you're looking at the 4th, but be prepared for a battle with the wind. Otherwise, it's gonna be a couple of weeks of checking the forecast and hoping for a change.

Rusty.

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