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.
Sat, May 16: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with calm winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 12mph.
Sun, May 17: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with 12mph from the SW.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with 8mph from the SW. Afternoon breeze fills in to 15mph.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with 9mph from the SW. Afternoon breeze fills in to 19mph.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with 10mph from the SSW. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 17mph.
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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 8.95s swell period. Wind is SSW 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 1.6ft E primary swell at 10s, a 1.2ft SE secondary swell at 8s, a 1.1ft S wind swell swell at 3s. 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 Saturday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 2ft waves, a 8.95s 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
