Virginia
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.
Sun, May 10: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with moderate ESE wind around 9mph.
Mon, May 11: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with strong N wind at 16mph.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Skip the dawn patrol — 1-2ft and poor early on. Things come together by the afternoon with 1-2ft at poor.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with moderate S wind around 7mph. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 23mph.
Thu, May 14: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with 11mph WNW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 17mph.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
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 1-2ft with a 6.75s swell period. Wind is ESE at 9mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Virginia Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 2.3ft ESE primary swell at 7s, a 0.4ft ESE secondary swell at 13s, a 0.7ft SE 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 Tuesday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 2ft waves, a 4.65s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
