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 10/12                               Sun 10/13
EDT 3hrly          23   02   05   08   11   14   17   20   23   02   05   08   11   14

Rip Current Risk                 Mod  Mod  Mod  Mod                      Mod  Mod  Mod
Rip Probability    34   27   36   52   48   29   25   37   42   31   26   39   54   50
Surf Height (ft)    1    1    1    1    1    1    1    1    1    1    1    1    2    2
Dom Period (s)     13   13   13   12   12   12   12   13   13   14   14   13   13   13
Chance Precip       0    0    0    0    0    0    0    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       Clr  Clr  Clr  Clr  Clr  Clr  Clr Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr  Clr  Clr
Temperature        59   58   58   59   68   73   73   68   65   64   63   63   70   73
Heat Index                                                                            
Wind (mph)        W10  W13  W13  W13  W12   W9   W9   W7   W6  SW6  SW7 SW10 SW16 SW18
Wind Gust                    18                                                22   25


Date                    Mon 10/14           Tue 10/15           Wed 10/16
EDT 6hrly          20   02   08   14   20   02   08   14   20   02   08   14

Rip Probability    66   73   67   54   24   31   23   29   13   22    7   16
Surf Height (ft)    2    3    2    2    2    2    2    2    2    2    2    2
Dom Period (s)      6    6    7    6    7    7    7   10   10   12   12   12
Chance Precip      10   10    5    5    0    0    5    5    5    5    5    5
TSTM Potential   None None None None None None None None None None None None
Cloud Cover      Mclr Pcld Pcld Mclr Pcld Pcld Pcld Pcld Mclr Mclr Mclr Pcld
Temperature        68   66   65   71   59   53   50   58   53   50   49   57
Heat Index                                                                  
Wind (mph)       SW22 SW22 SW17  W22 NW20 NW15 NW14  W16  W16 NW18 NW18 NW21
Wind Gust          30   31   23   30   28   21   20   22   23   24   25   28

Accomack-Northampton Beaches

Date                    Sat 10/12                               Sun 10/13
EDT 3hrly          23   02   05   08   11   14   17   20   23   02   05   08   11   14

Rip Current Risk                 Mod  Mod  Mod  Mod                      Mod  Mod  Mod
Rip Probability    30   21   34   58   54   32   29   50   55   34   29   53   70   56
Surf Height (ft)    2    2    2    2    2    2    2    2    2    2    2    2    2    3
Dom Period (s)     13   13   13   12   12   12   12   13   13   14   14   14   14   13
Chance Precip       0    0    0    0    0    0    0    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       Clr  Clr  Clr  Clr  Clr  Clr  Clr  Clr Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr  Clr  Clr
Temperature        61   61   60   62   69   73   73   69   66   66   65   65   71   74
Heat Index                                                                            
Wind (mph)        W10  W14  W14  W14  W13  W10   W9   W7  SW7  SW8  SW9 SW12 SW16 SW20
Wind Gust                    20             15                                 22   26


Date                    Mon 10/14           Tue 10/15           Wed 10/16
EDT 6hrly          20   02   08   14   20   02   08   14   20   02   08   14

Rip Probability    75   81   79   68   35   40   23   34   11   26    5   21
Surf Height (ft)    3    4    4    3    3    2    2    2    2    2    2    2
Dom Period (s)      7    6    6    6    9    7    7   10   10   12   12   12
Chance Precip       5   10    5    5    0    0    5    5    5    5    5    5
TSTM Potential   None None None None None None None None None None None None
Cloud Cover      Mclr Pcld Pcld Mclr Mclr Mclr Pcld Pcld Pcld Mclr Mclr Pcld
Temperature        69   67   66   72   60   54   52   59   54   51   50   58
Heat Index                                                                  
Wind (mph)       SW24 SW25 SW21  W24 NW22 NW16 NW15  W17  W18 NW20 NW20 NW22
Wind Gust          31   35   28   32   29   22   21   23   24   26   26   30

Virginia Beach

Date                    Sat 10/12                               Sun 10/13
EDT 3hrly          23   02   05   08   11   14   17   20   23   02   05   08   11   14

Rip Current Risk                 Mod  Mod  Mod  Mod                      Low  Low  Low
Rip Probability    33   25   24   29   27   15   13   19   21   12    9   13   16    9
Surf Height (ft)    3    3    2    2    2    2    2    2    2    2    2    2    2    2
Dom Period (s)     11   11   11   13   13   13   13   13   13   13   13   14   14   13
Chance Precip       0    0    0    0    0    0    0    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       Clr  Clr  Clr  Clr  Clr  Clr  Clr  Clr  Clr  Clr  Clr  Clr  Clr  Clr
Temperature        60   60   59   61   69   73   73   68   65   63   62   63   71   74
Heat Index                                                                            
Wind (mph)         W9  W13  W14  W14  W12   W9  SW6  SW8  SW9 SW12 SW13 SW13 SW15 SW16
Wind Gust                                                                      20   21


Date                    Mon 10/14           Tue 10/15           Wed 10/16
EDT 6hrly          20   02   08   14   20   02   08   14   20   02   08   14

Rip Probability    10   13    8    7    9   10    4    8    3    9    3   10
Surf Height (ft)    3    3    3    3    3    3    3    3    3    3    3    3
Dom Period (s)     13   12   12   12   11   11    9    5    4    4    4    4
Chance Precip       0    0    5    5    0    0    5    5    5    5    5    5
TSTM Potential   None None None None None None None None None None None None
Cloud Cover       Clr Mclr Pcld Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr Pcld Pcld Mclr Mclr Mclr
Temperature        71   69   68   74   63   58   56   60   56   53   53   60
Heat Index                                                                  
Wind (mph)       SW20 SW23 SW20  W21 NW21 NW16 NW15 NW15 NW17 NW18 NW20 NW17
Wind Gust          25   30   25   26   26   21        20   22   24   25   23

Currituck Beaches

Date                    Sat 10/12                               Sun 10/13
EDT 3hrly          23   02   05   08   11   14   17   20   23   02   05   08   11   14

Rip Current Risk                 Mod  Mod  Mod  Mod                      Low  Low  Low
Rip Probability    44   38   38   42   39   28   25   34   33   23   18   24   25   17
Surf Height (ft)    3    3    3    3    3    2    2    2    2    2    2    2    2    2
Dom Period (s)     11   12   12   13   13   14   14   14   14   13   13   14   14   13
Chance Precip       0    0    0    0    0    0    0    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       Clr  Clr  Clr  Clr  Clr  Clr  Clr  Clr  Clr  Clr  Clr  Clr  Clr  Clr
Temperature        61   61   60   62   69   73   73   69   67   66   65   66   71   74
Heat Index                                                                            
Wind (mph)         W8  W12  W13  W14  W13 SW10  SW8  SW8  SW9 SW12 SW13 SW13 SW15 SW16
Wind Gust                                                                      20   21


Date                    Mon 10/14           Tue 10/15           Wed 10/16
EDT 6hrly          20   02   08   14   20   02   08   14   20   02   08   14

Rip Probability    17   17   11    9    9   11    5    8    4   10    5   12
Surf Height (ft)    3    3    3    3    3    3    3    3    3    3    3    3
Dom Period (s)     13   12   12   12   11   11   11   10   10   10    8    8
Chance Precip       0    0    5    5    0    0    0    5    5    5    5    5
TSTM Potential   None None None None None None None None None None None None
Cloud Cover       Clr Mclr Pcld Mclr Mclr Mclr Mclr Pcld Pcld Mclr  Clr Mclr
Temperature        71   69   69   75   64   59   57   62   57   54   53   60
Heat Index                                                                  
Wind (mph)       SW18 SW23 SW20  W18 NW20 NW16 NW14 NW13 NW16 NW18 NW18 NW16
Wind Gust          24   30   26   24   26   21             21   23   24   21