Surf Matrix areas beaches NWS Wakefield

* EXPERIMENTAL - NOT FOR OPERATIONAL USE *

Experimental Surf Forecast Matrix

In the tabs below you can view Surf Forecast Matrices for various beaches over the Wakefield, VA forecast area. This product is experimental and not intended to be substituted for the official Surf Zone Forecast, which can be viewed HERE. Additional information on this project and variable definitions can be found HERE. We are seeking feedback on this over the next several months, so please send us your input via an online survey.

The Rip Probabilities included in the matrices below are from a rip current forecast model tied to NOAA's Nearshore Wave Prediction System. This model predicts the probabilities of hazardous rip currents occurring using output from the nearshore wave model and predicted tide levels. Values are calculated from 0-100%, hourly through 144 hours.

Maryland Beaches
Accomack-Northampton Beaches
Virginia Beach
Currituck Beaches

Maryland Beaches

Date                         Wed 09/10                               Thu 09/11
EDT 3hrly          20   23   02   05   08   11   14   17   20   23   02   05   08   11   14

Rip Current Risk                     High High High High                      Mod  Mod  Mod
Rip Probability    80   84   92   90   78   72   82   84   71   64   75   78   59   48   63
Surf Height (ft)    4    3    3    3    3    3    3    3    3    3    2    2    2    2    2
Dom Period (s)      8    8    8    8    8    8    8    8    7    7    7    7    7    7    7
Chance Precip      50   60   60   60   50   40   30   30   20   20   10   10    5    5   10
TSTM Potential    Low  Low  Mod  Low  Low  Low  Low  Low None None None None None None None
Cloud Cover       Cld  Cld  Cld  Cld Mcld  Cld  Cld  Cld Mcld Mcld Mcld Pcld Pcld Pcld Pcld
Temperature        69   70   71   70   70   71   71   71   70   70   69   67   67   71   72
Heat Index                                                                                 
Wind (mph)       NE24 NE22 NE18 NE18 NE17 NE18  N18  N18  N17  N14  N13  N13  N12  N12 NE12
Wind Gust          30                  22   24   25   25                                   


Date                    Fri 09/12           Sat 09/13           Sun 09/14
EDT 6hrly          20   02   08   14   20   02   08   14   20   02   08   14

Rip Probability    58   53   48   49   64   53   59   43   59   53   47   37
Surf Height (ft)    2    2    2    2    2    2    2    2    2    2    2    2
Dom Period (s)      7    7    7    7    8    8    8    8    8    8   MM   MM
Chance Precip       5    5    5    5    5    5    5    5    5    5    5   10
TSTM Potential   None None None None None None None None None None None None
Cloud Cover      Pcld Pcld Mclr Mclr Mclr Pcld Pcld Pcld Pcld Pcld Pcld Pcld
Temperature        71   69   68   72   70   69   68   71   69   67   66   73
Heat Index                                                                  
Wind (mph)        NE8  NE8 NE12 NE15 NE14  E12 NE13 NE15  E13  NE9  N12  E13
Wind Gust                         20                  21

Accomack-Northampton Beaches

Date                         Wed 09/10                               Thu 09/11
EDT 3hrly          20   23   02   05   08   11   14   17   20   23   02   05   08   11   14

Rip Current Risk                     High High High High                      Mod  Mod  Mod
Rip Probability    62   72   88   86   58   54   76   79   53   47   69   74   41   30   53
Surf Height (ft)    5    5    4    4    4    4    4    4    4    3    3    3    3    3    3
Dom Period (s)      8    8    8    8    8    8    8    8    8    8    8    8    8    8    8
Chance Precip      50   60   60   60   50   50   40   30   20   20   10   10    5    5   10
TSTM Potential    Low  Low  Low  Low  Low  Mod  Mod  Low  Low  Low None None None None None
Cloud Cover       Cld  Cld  Cld  Cld Mcld Mcld  Cld Mcld Mcld Mcld Mcld Pcld Pcld Pcld Pcld
Temperature        69   70   70   70   71   73   73   72   70   69   68   66   68   72   74
Heat Index                                                                                 
Wind (mph)       NE26 NE24 NE18 NE18 NE17  N18  N20  N18  N18  N15  N13  N13  N12  N12 NE12
Wind Gust          31                                 24                                   


Date                    Fri 09/12           Sat 09/13           Sun 09/14
EDT 6hrly          20   02   08   14   20   02   08   14   20   02   08   14

Rip Probability    47   48   37   43   58   54   53   36   55   47   43   26
Surf Height (ft)    2    2    2    2    3    3    3    3    3    3    3    3
Dom Period (s)      8    8    7    8    6    7    8    8    8    8   MM   MM
Chance Precip      10    5    5   10    5    5    5    5    5    5   10   10
TSTM Potential   None None None None None None None None None None None None
Cloud Cover      Pcld Mclr Mclr Mclr Pcld Pcld Pcld Pcld Pcld Pcld Mclr Pcld
Temperature        71   68   68   74   71   69   69   72   69   67   67   74
Heat Index                                                                  
Wind (mph)        NE9  NE8 NE13 NE17 NE16 NE14 NE14 NE18  E15 NE10  N12  E15
Wind Gust

Virginia Beach

Date                         Wed 09/10                               Thu 09/11
EDT 3hrly          20   23   02   05   08   11   14   17   20   23   02   05   08   11   14

Rip Current Risk                     High High High High                      Mod  Mod  Mod
Rip Probability    40   42   44   43   39   38   42   43   39   37   41   42   36   31   37
Surf Height (ft)    6    5    5    5    4    4    4    4    4    4    4    4    4    4    4
Dom Period (s)      7    7    8    8    8    8    8    8    8    8    8    8    7    7    7
Chance Precip      50   60   60   50   30   30   40   30   20   20   10   10   10   10   10
TSTM Potential    Low  Low None  Low  Low  Low  Low  Low  Low None None None None None None
Cloud Cover       Cld Mcld  Cld Mcld Mcld Mcld Mcld Mcld Mcld Pcld Mcld Pcld Pcld Pcld Pcld
Temperature        72   72   72   72   72   73   73   73   72   72   71   71   70   72   73
Heat Index                                                                                 
Wind (mph)       NE28 NE23 NE18  N18  N18  N20  N20  N20  N17  N15  N14  N15  N15  N15  N15
Wind Gust          33                            25   26   22                       20   20


Date                    Fri 09/12           Sat 09/13           Sun 09/14
EDT 6hrly          20   02   08   14   20   02   08   14   20   02   08   14

Rip Probability    36   35   34   36   41   39   41   37   41   40   36   33
Surf Height (ft)    3    3    3    4    4    4    4    5    4    4    4    4
Dom Period (s)      7    7    7    7    5    6    6    6    6    7   MM   MM
Chance Precip      10   10   20   20   20   10   10   10   10   10   10   10
TSTM Potential   None None None None None None None None None None None None
Cloud Cover      Pcld Pcld Pcld Pcld Pcld Pcld Pcld Pcld Pcld Pcld Pcld Mclr
Temperature        72   71   72   74   72   72   71   72   71   69   68   73
Heat Index                                                                  
Wind (mph)       NE12 NE10 NE15 NE20 NE18 NE20 NE22 NE23 NE18 NE15  N15 NE16
Wind Gust                    20   25   24             29   24             21

Currituck Beaches

Date                         Wed 09/10                               Thu 09/11
EDT 3hrly          20   23   02   05   08   11   14   17   20   23   02   05   08   11   14

Rip Current Risk                     High High High High                      Mod  Mod  Mod
Rip Probability    45   51   52   52   49   48   52   51   49   48   51   51   46   42   49
Surf Height (ft)    6    6    5    5    5    5    5    5    5    4    4    4    4    4    4
Dom Period (s)      7    7    8    8    8    8    8    8    8    8    8    8    8    8    8
Chance Precip      50   60   50   50   30   30   30   30   20   20   10   10   10   10   20
TSTM Potential    Low  Low  Low  Low  Low  Low  Low  Low None None None None None None None
Cloud Cover       Cld Mcld Mcld  Cld Mcld Mcld  Cld Mcld Mcld Mcld Mcld Mcld Pcld Pcld Pcld
Temperature        73   73   73   73   74   74   74   74   73   72   72   72   71   73   73
Heat Index                                                                                 
Wind (mph)       NE25 NE20 NE16  N16  N16  N18  N17  N18  N16  N14  N13  N14  N14  N15  N15
Wind Gust          33   26   21   21   22   24   25   26   23   20   18   20   20   21   22


Date                    Fri 09/12           Sat 09/13           Sun 09/14
EDT 6hrly          20   02   08   14   20   02   08   14   20   02   08   14

Rip Probability    47   48   45   46   49   49   50   47   48   47   44   42
Surf Height (ft)    4    3    3    4    4    4    4    5    4    4    4    4
Dom Period (s)      7    7    7    7    7    6    6    6    7    8   MM   MM
Chance Precip      10   10   20   20   20   20   20   20   20   10   20   10
TSTM Potential   None None None  Low None None None None None None  Low  Low
Cloud Cover      Pcld Pcld Pcld Pcld Pcld Pcld Pcld Pcld Pcld Pcld Pcld Pcld
Temperature        72   71   72   74   72   72   72   73   71   70   70   73
Heat Index                                                                  
Wind (mph)       NE10 NE12 NE14 NE18 NE18 NE20 NE22 NE22 NE20 NE15  N15 NE16
Wind Gust          17        20   28   26   25   28   33   28   21   20   24

Surf Matrix areas beaches NWS Wakefield

*** EXPERIMENTAL - NOT FOR OPERATIONAL USE ***

* EXPERIMENTAL - NOT FOR OPERATIONAL USE *