Virginia Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. Rusty here, and I’ve gotta be straight with you—this is a tough stretch for Virginia Beach. The next 16 days are looking pretty flat and uninspiring for the most part. We’re dealing with a long run of poor surf conditions, with only a couple of tiny windows where things might just be worth a paddle.

The whole period starts off with a real dud. From Tuesday the 18th of August right through to Tuesday the 25th, it’s basically a write-off. Swell is tiny, mostly around 1 ft to 2 ft, with short periods under 10 seconds, and the combined energy is weak—often in the low double digits (like 15 to 83). Winds are a mixed bag of onshore, cross-on, and cross-off, but none of it is enough to make the small surf worthwhile. The water temperature is sitting at 80°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t freeze while you’re sitting there waiting for a wave.

We finally see a little flicker of life on Wednesday the 26th of August. The morning shows a 1 ft swell from the ESE, but the period jumps to a very long 16 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell pulse, and combined energy hits 103—moderate. The wind is light and cross-off from the SSW, so the surface will be clean. This is the first real standout. Virginia Beach (the beach/jetty setup) might see a few longer-period lines, but with that period, it’ll be a bit straight-breaking for the beach. Still, for a small wave, it’s the best on offer. The rest of the day and into the 27th, the swell ticks up a bit to 2 ft from the E, with periods around 13 seconds, and energy up to 158. Winds stay cross-off, so it’s clean, but the waves are still very ordinary. It’s small, but if you’re keen, the 27th of August could give you a few fun, clean waves.

The 28th of August is another tiny highlight. The morning is a bit messy, but by the afternoon we get a glassy 2 ft ESE swell, period 11 seconds, and energy at 112. That’s a glassy surface, which is rare, and the waves are surfable, just very ordinary. The 30th of August has a bit more size—3 ft from the ESE with a period of 11 seconds, energy up to 191—but it’s onshore wind, so chop will be an issue.

The very end of the run, on the 2nd of September, gives us a glassy morning with a 1 ft ESE swell, but period is only 8 seconds, so energy is low at 50. It’s clean, but tiny.

Overall, the standout is the 26th and 27th of August. The combination of a long-period groundswell, clean cross-off winds, and moderate energy makes it the best shot at a session. But keep expectations low—this is really small stuff. For beginners, it’s fine, but for anyone looking for a proper wave, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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