How do I read a surf forecast?

A surf forecast shows wave height (in feet), wave period (in seconds), wave direction, wind speed, and wind direction. Longer wave periods (12+ seconds) mean more powerful, well-organized waves. Offshore wind (blowing from land to sea) creates the cleanest conditions.

What is the best wave period for surfing?

Wave periods of 12 seconds or more indicate ground swell — powerful, well-organized waves that travel long distances. Periods of 9-12 seconds are medium-period swell with decent shape. Under 9 seconds is wind swell, which tends to be weaker and less organized.

What does offshore wind mean for surfing?

Offshore wind blows from land toward the ocean, holding up wave faces and creating clean, glassy conditions ideal for surfing. Onshore wind (from ocean to land) creates choppy, disorganized surf. Light winds under 5 mph in any direction also produce good conditions.

When is the best time to surf?

Early morning typically offers the lightest winds and cleanest conditions. The best sessions depend on the combination of swell size, period, wind direction, and tide. Free Surf Forecast scores 3-hour windows and highlights the best times to paddle out.

Surf Forecast for Nags Head - Abalone St

Free Surf Forecast provides a 7-day surf forecast including wave height, wave period, wave direction, wind speed and direction, tide predictions, and live surf cameras for Nags Head - Abalone St and hundreds of other coastal locations.

This dashboard requires JavaScript to display interactive charts, maps, and live data.

Data sources:

Open-Meteo — Wave and weather forecasts
NOAA CO-OPS — Tide predictions
NDBC — Buoy observations

Current Conditions Live

Wave Height - ft
Wave Period - s
Wave Direction - °
Wind - -
Temperature - -
Tides -

24-Hour Tide

Live Cam Loading

Finding nearest camera...

Live Cam Loading

Finding nearest camera...

Wave & Wind Forecast

Clean Fair Choppy

Tidal Predictions Loading station

Buoy Observations

Live

Wave Height-
Period-
Direction-
Wind-
Water Temp-
Air Temp-
Pressure-

Energy Spectrum

Directional Spectrum

Buoy Location

Ocean Basin

Loading ocean data...

Local Wave Height (ft)

Loading map data...

Local Wind Speed & Direction

Loading map data...

Local Wave Period (s)

Loading map data...

Map Time Loading

Time:

Session Planner ? Analyzing

Waiting for forecast data...

Daylight Forecast

✓ Clean = Offshore/calm wind ● Fair = Cross-shore/light onshore ✗ Choppy = Onshore wind

Date	Time	Waves (ft)	Period (s)	Wind (mph)	Wind Dir	Conditions

Compare Breaks Add locations

Add a location

Select locations above to compare forecasts