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               Sat 09/30                          Sun 10/01
EDT 3hrly          05   08   11   14   17   20   23   02   05   08   11   14   17   20

Rip Current Risk      High High High High                     High High High High     
Rip Probability    85   70   76   87   84   72   77   88   87   75   76   86   86   77
Surf Height (ft)    3    3    3    3    3    3    3    3    3    3    3    3    3    3
Dom Period (s)      9    9    9    9    9    9    9    9    9   10   10   10   10   10
Chance Precip      20   20   20   20   20   10   10    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
TSTM Potential   None None None None None None None None None None None None None None
Cloud Cover       Cld  Cld  Cld  Cld  Cld Mcld Pcld Pcld Mclr Mclr Mclr  Clr  Clr  Clr
Temperature        65   65   66   67   67   65   64   63   62   64   68   71   71   67
Heat Index                                                                            
Wind (mph)       N 15 N 17 N 18 N 20 N 20 N 16 N 15 N 14 N 16 N 17 N 17 N 17 N 15NE 12
Wind Gust          22   24   25   26   26   22   21        22   23   24   24   20     


Date               Mon 10/02           Tue 10/03           Wed 10/04           Thu 10/05
EDT 6hrly          02   08   14   20   02   08   14   20   02   08   14   20   02   08   14

Rip Probability    86   75   83   80   85   80   81   86   84   81   74   82   82   88   85
Surf Height (ft)    3    3    3    3    3    3    3    2    2    2    2    2    2    2    2
Dom Period (s)     10   10   10   10   10   10   11   11   11   10   10   10   10   10   15
Chance Precip       0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    5    5    5
TSTM Potential   None None None None None None None None None None None None None None None
Cloud Cover      Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr Pcld
Temperature        65   64   71   67   65   65   71   67   65   64   71   68   66   66   71
Heat Index                                                                                 
Wind (mph)       N 10 N 15NE 16NE 14NE 12 N 12NE 12 NE 8 NE 6  N 9 NE 9NE 10 NE 8 NE 9NE 12
Wind Gust          15   20   22

Accomack-Northampton Beaches

Date               Sat 09/30                          Sun 10/01
EDT 3hrly          05   08   11   14   17   20   23   02   05   08   11   14   17   20

Rip Current Risk      High High High High                     High High High High     
Rip Probability    81   48   64   83   74   48   61   83   77   53   62   83   82   63
Surf Height (ft)    4    4    4    3    4    4    4    4    4    4    4    4    4    4
Dom Period (s)     10    9    9   10   10   10   10   10   10   10   10   10   10   10
Chance Precip      20   20   20   20   20   10   10    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
TSTM Potential   None None None None None None None None None None None None None None
Cloud Cover       Cld  Cld  Cld  Cld  Cld Mcld Pcld Pcld Mclr Mclr Mclr  Clr  Clr  Clr
Temperature        64   64   67   67   67   65   64   63   63   64   69   72   72   68
Heat Index                                                                            
Wind (mph)       N 16 N 17 N 18 N 18 N 18 N 17 N 18 N 15 N 17 N 17 N 18 N 18 N 16NE 14
Wind Gust          22   23   25   25   24   23   25   21   23   23   24   25   22     


Date               Mon 10/02           Tue 10/03           Wed 10/04           Thu 10/05
EDT 6hrly          02   08   14   20   02   08   14   20   02   08   14   20   02   08   14

Rip Probability    83   60   78   71   83   70   76   80   80   73   66   75   76   84   79
Surf Height (ft)    4    4    4    4    4    4    4    4    3    3    3    3    3    3    3
Dom Period (s)     10   10   11   11   11   11   11   11   11   10   10   10   10   11   15
Chance Precip       0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    5    5    5
TSTM Potential   None None None None None None None None None None None None None None None
Cloud Cover       Clr Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr  Clr Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr Pcld
Temperature        65   65   72   68   65   65   71   67   65   65   72   69   67   67   73
Heat Index                                                                                 
Wind (mph)       N 12 N 15NE 17NE 16NE 13 N 13NE 13NE 10 NE 8NE 10NE 10NE 12 NE 9NE 10NE 13
Wind Gust               21   23   22

Virginia Beach

Date               Sat 09/30                          Sun 10/01
EDT 3hrly          05   08   11   14   17   20   23   02   05   08   11   14   17   20

Rip Current Risk      High High High High                     High High High High     
Rip Probability    40   35   38   43   41   34   36   41   41   35   38   43   43   41
Surf Height (ft)    5    5    5    5    5    5    5    5    5    5    6    6    6    6
Dom Period (s)      9    9    9    9    9   10   10   10   10    9    9   10   10   10
Chance Precip      20   20   20   20   20    5    5    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
TSTM Potential   None None None None None None None None None None None None None None
Cloud Cover       Cld  Cld  Cld  Cld  Cld Mcld Mcld Pcld Pcld Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr
Temperature        67   67   68   69   70   68   67   67   66   67   71   72   72   70
Heat Index                                                                            
Wind (mph)       N 20 N 21 N 22 N 20 N 21 N 20 N 20 N 20 N 20 N 22 N 22 N 21 N 20 N 18
Wind Gust          26   26   28   26   26   25   25   25   25   28   29   26   25   23


Date               Mon 10/02           Tue 10/03           Wed 10/04           Thu 10/05
EDT 6hrly          02   08   14   20   02   08   14   20   02   08   14   20   02   08   14

Rip Probability    43   41   43   42   43   42   41   42   41   41   38   40   37   38   33
Surf Height (ft)    5    5    6    6    5    5    5    5    5    4    4    4    4    4    4
Dom Period (s)     10   10   11   11   11   11   11   11   11   11   10   10   10   10   10
Chance Precip       0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    5    0    5    5   10
TSTM Potential   None None None None None None None None None None None None None None None
Cloud Cover      Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr  Clr  Clr Mclr  Clr Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr Pcld Pcld
Temperature        69   69   72   69   68   68   71   69   68   68   73   71   70   69   73
Heat Index                                                                                 
Wind (mph)       N 15 N 18NE 20NE 20NE 17NE 17NE 17NE 14NE 12NE 14NE 14NE 14NE 12NE 12NE 14
Wind Gust          20   24   25   26   23   23   22

Currituck Beaches

Date               Sat 09/30                          Sun 10/01
EDT 3hrly          05   08   11   14   17   20   23   02   05   08   11   14   17   20

Rip Current Risk      High High High High                     High High High High     
Rip Probability    54   50   54   55   54   48   51   53   52   47   51   55   54   55
Surf Height (ft)    5    5    5    5    5    5    6    6    6    6    6    6    6    6
Dom Period (s)      9    9    9    9    9   10   10   10   10    9    9   10   10   10
Chance Precip      10   20   20   20   20    5    5    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
TSTM Potential   None None None None None None None None None None None None None None
Cloud Cover       Cld  Cld  Cld  Cld  Cld Mcld Mcld Pcld Pcld Pcld Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr
Temperature        68   68   68   70   71   69   68   68   67   68   71   72   72   70
Heat Index                                                                            
Wind (mph)       N 20 N 20 N 20 N 20 N 21 N 21 N 22 N 21 N 22 N 22 N 22 N 22 N 22 N 20
Wind Gust          26   26   26   26   28   26   29   28   29   29   29   29   28   25


Date               Mon 10/02           Tue 10/03           Wed 10/04           Thu 10/05
EDT 6hrly          02   08   14   20   02   08   14   20   02   08   14   20   02   08   14

Rip Probability    56   56   58   57   58   57   57   57   57   56   53   53   50   49   46
Surf Height (ft)    6    6    6    6    6    6    6    5    5    5    5    4    4    4    4
Dom Period (s)     11   11   11   11   11   11   11   11   11   11   11   10   10   10   10
Chance Precip       0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    5    5    5    5   10
TSTM Potential   None None None None None None None None None None None None None None None
Cloud Cover      Mclr Mclr Mclr  Clr Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr Pcld Pcld
Temperature        69   69   73   70   68   70   72   70   69   69   73   71   70   70   74
Heat Index                                                                                 
Wind (mph)       N 18 N 21 N 21NE 21NE 18NE 18NE 18NE 16NE 13NE 15NE 15NE 15NE 12NE 13NE 13
Wind Gust          23   26   28   26   24   24   24   21        20   20   20

Surf Matrix areas beaches NWS Wakefield

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

* EXPERIMENTAL - NOT FOR OPERATIONAL USE *