Virginia Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Hey folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down Virginia Beach. The start is a real bummer – there’s a big dry spell until the last week of September. The first decent shot isn’t until Thursday the 24th, and even that’s marginal. You’re looking at nearly two weeks of waiting.

The early days are tiny and messy. Saturday the 12th has 1 ft of weak swell and onshore wind at 9 mph. Sunday the 13th cleans up a bit with a light offshore breeze, but the swell is only 1 ft to 2 ft – basically flat. That’s the pattern all through the next week: small, short-period junk and choppy onshore wind. The wave energy is low, under 100 for most of it. By Wednesday the 16th, we get a little bump to 4 ft, but the wind is still cross-onshore, so it’s messy.

We get some clean moments on the 18th and 19th with light wind, but the swell drops back to 0.7 ft. Not worth the walk down the beach. Sunday the 20th brings rain and a 16 mph NE wind, ruining the tiny 1 ft swell.

Things get real from Monday the 21st. The swell picks up to 4 ft to 5 ft, but the wind is howling onshore at 19-22 mph. It’s lumpy and blown out. The wave energy climbs to 103-162. By Tuesday the 22nd, it’s a full gale – 34-40 mph NE winds with 5 ft swell. The energy is 287, but it’s a total washing machine. This is kite-surfing weather, not paddling.

Wednesday the 23rd sees the wind swing offshore from the NW, but it’s still screaming at 34 mph in the morning. The swell holds at 5 ft with a short 7-second period. It’s clean, but that wind is brutal. Thursday the 24th is the turning point – offshore NW wind at 16 mph, 6 ft of east swell. The energy is 273-295. It’s still lumpy, but for the first time, it’s rideable.

The absolute standout is Friday the 25th and Saturday the 26th. Friday morning offers 7 ft of east swell with an offshore NW breeze at 9 mph. The wave energy jumps to 478 – that’s strong. Saturday morning is even better: glassy conditions with 5 mph south wind, and 5 ft of east swell. The energy peaks at 484. For Virginia Beach, an east swell with clean, light wind is as good as it gets. The surf will have some punch, so beginners should be cautious with the size over 5 ft. That’s your window. By Sunday the 27th, the swell drops to 5 ft and the energy fades (261).

Here’s the bottom line: you wait almost two weeks, and then you get two days – Friday the 25th and Saturday the 26th – that are worth the wait. That’s your call. Don’t bother before that.

Rusty.

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