Virginia
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Virginia Beach for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Virginia Beach, Virginia. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Wed, Jun 24: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on SE swell at 6s with calm winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Thu, Jun 25: 1–1ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with light S winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 15mph.
Fri, Jun 26: 0–1ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with 11mph SSW winds.
Sat, Jun 27: 1–1ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1ft and poor with moderate SW wind around 11mph.
Sun, Jun 28: 1–2ft, 10s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with moderate N wind around 9mph.
Virginia Beach offers accessible sandy beach breaks along the longest pleasure beach in the United States, with consistent small to medium waves ideal for beginners and intermediates. The gentle, rolling waves work best during autumn when Atlantic swells wrap around from nor'easters, and the broad, sandy bottom provides a forgiving learning environment. This heavily-trafficked tourist destination means you'll share the water with plenty of other surfers, but the long shoreline offers plenty of room to find a quieter peak.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Virginia Beach is 0-1ft with a 6.8s swell period. Wind is SE at 6mph and conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Virginia Beach is 0-1ft, produced by a 1.1ft SE primary swell at 7s, a 1.1ft NE secondary swell at 4s, a 0.5ft ESE wind swell swell at 2s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Virginia Beach is Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 1ft waves, a 10.1s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Virginia Beach works best with a NE swell and W winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Virginia Beach. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Virginia Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Virginia Beach offers accessible sandy beach breaks along the longest pleasure beach in the United States, with consistent small to medium waves ideal for beginners and intermediates. The gentle, rolling waves work best during autumn when Atlantic swells wrap around from nor'easters, and the broad, sandy bottom provides a forgiving learning environment. This heavily-trafficked tourist destination means you'll share the water with plenty of other surfers, but the long shoreline offers plenty of room to find a quieter peak.
The prime season at Virginia Beach is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Virginia Beach include heavy crowds, strong currents near pier, tourist swimmers in summer, occasional jellyfish. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Virginia Beach forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable. Extended forecasts show general trends. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
