Virginia Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get real about the next couple of weeks. We’ve got a long, quiet stretch ahead, but there might be a little something to keep an eye on right at the end.

Overall Pattern & Gaps

Straight up, we’re looking at a pretty flat run for the vast majority of the 16-day window. From now through to the 20th of August, the surf is basically a write-off. There’s no swell energy to speak of, and the waves are tiny. You’ll be staring at a glassy lake for a solid week and a half. The only real pulse of energy doesn’t show up until the 20th of August, and even then, it’s nothing to write home about.

The Early Drought (Now through 19th August)

For Virginia Beach, the first surf recommendation doesn’t even have a pulse. The morning of the 6th shows a tiny 2ft wave from the SE with a weak period of 6 seconds and combined energy of just 33 – that’s barely a ripple. Water temp is sitting at a nice 79°F with a normal anomaly of 0.4°F, but with waves that small, it’s just a swimming day. The whole week is a flat spell. We get a few brief moments of glassy or offshore wind, like on the morning of the 9th (WSW 9 mph offshore) and the afternoon of the 14th (SW 3 mph glassy), but the waves are a pathetic 1ft to 1ft. It’s heartbreaking. Saturday the 10th through Sunday the 18th are all in the same boat – tiny, weak, and mostly poor quality. This is a classic extended lull for the area, and it’s going to feel like it lasts forever.

Late August Pulse (20th – 21st August)

Finally, on the 20th of August, things get a little interesting. The forecast shows a bump in energy. The morning of Thursday the 20th picks up to a 3ft SSE swell with a short period of 4 seconds, but the combined energy jumps to 40. By the afternoon, it’s a 3ft wave from the same direction, period still short at 5 seconds, but the energy hits 69. That’s more than double what we’ve seen. The wind is a clean cross-offshore from the SSW at 12 mph, which should keep the surface tidy. It’s still a small wave, but for a flat spell, it’s the standout. Then on the 21st of August, Friday morning holds a 2ft SSE swell with a period of 6 seconds and energy of 44, with a light WSW 9 mph cross-off wind. The afternoon goes a bit soft with a light southerly breeze.

The Pick

If you absolutely have to get wet, the best chance is the afternoon of Thursday the 20th August. The 3ft SSE swell is the biggest we’ll see, and the 12 mph SSW cross-offshore wind will make it clean. Sure, the 5-second period is short, so it’ll be a bit crumbly, but it’s the only real window of organised surf. The morning of the 21st of August is a decent second option with similar conditions. Both options are fine for beginners, but it’s not going to be a classic. There’s no crowd factor to worry about during this drought, but if any surf shows up, Virginia Beach can get a few people out.

Rusty.

Read more