Virginia
Midday is the call — 2-3ft waves with 11mph SSW winds and poor - fair conditions.
Midday is the call — 2-3ft waves with 11mph SSW winds and poor - fair conditions.
Best window·Monday 5PM–8PM·3-4ft·Fair - Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Chincoteague, Virginia. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SE swell at 9s and moderate SSW wind around 12mph. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on S swell at 5s with 7mph from the WSW. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on S swell at 6s with 14mph NNW winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on NNE swell at 4s with 15mph N winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 20mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Mon, Sep 7: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Midday is the call — 2-3+ft waves with moderate NE wind around 10mph and poor - fair conditions. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor - Fair today — get one free email when Chincoteague turns Good.
Check Chincoteague from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Chincoteague is a sheltered beach break on Virginia's Eastern Shore, offering forgiving, rolling waves ideal for beginners and intermediate surfers. The sandy bottom and gentle slope create consistent, manageable peaks that work best during autumn swells and nor'easters. This quiet, uncrowded barrier island spot provides a peaceful alternative to busier mid-Atlantic breaks, with the bonus of wild ponies roaming the nearby dunes.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Chincoteague is 2-3ft with a 8.8s swell period. Wind is SSW at 12mph. Conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Chincoteague is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.8ft SE primary swell at 9s, a 1.7ft ENE wind swell swell at 6s. 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 Chincoteague is Monday from 5 PM to 8 PM with 3ft waves, a 8.1s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Chincoteague works best with a E 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 Chincoteague. 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.
Chincoteague is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Chincoteague is a sheltered beach break on Virginia's Eastern Shore, offering forgiving, rolling waves ideal for beginners and intermediate surfers. The sandy bottom and gentle slope create consistent, manageable peaks that work best during autumn swells and nor'easters. This quiet, uncrowded barrier island spot provides a peaceful alternative to busier mid-Atlantic breaks, with the bonus of wild ponies roaming the nearby dunes.
The prime season at Chincoteague 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 Chincoteague include occasional strong currents, shallow water at low tide. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Chincoteague 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. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
