🇺🇸 BUXTON, NORTH CAROLINA
Buxton
North Carolina's quality OBX break, home to Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
FAIR
Live Conditions
Conditions Summary
4ft waves — but short 7s period indicates wind swell, expect choppy conditions — but swell direction is marginal for this spot — light cross-shore winds, still manageable
HIGH CONFIDENCEFresh buoy data + calibrated transformation
Why it's FAIR
Swell Direction
Primary swell is 54° — matches the ideal 80° window for this spot
Swell Period
10s — solid groundswell. Waves will have real energy and organization.
Wind
4mph offshore — clean, grooming the wave face
Tide
High tide — some spots get mushy at peak high
Season
September is peak season for this spot
Data Confidence
Fresh buoy data with calibrated coastal transformation
At the Break
3.7ft
HIGH CONFIDENCE
Fresh buoy data + calibrated transformation
Period
10s
Mid-period
Wind
4mph
N
OFFSHORE
Water
78°F
Boardshorts
Live Buoy 44095
2.6ft
10s
36 min ago
Tide
HIGH TIDE
1.1ft
Next high: in 39 min
Swell Direction
55%
Wind Direction
80%
Primary Swell
1.7ft @ 5.0s
SE 130°
Secondary Swell
1.0ft @ 7.0s
ENE 59°
10 Day Outlook
3.0ft
TODAY
Sep 9
(9s)
3.0ft
TMRW
Sep 10
(10s)
3.3ft
FRI
Sep 11
(9s)
2.0ft
SAT
Sep 12
(9s)
2.3ft
SUN
Sep 13
(9s)
2.2ft
MON
Sep 14
(9s)
1.8ft
TUE
Sep 15
(9s)
1.6ft
WED
Sep 16
(14s)
1.5ft
THU
Sep 17
(13s)
3.3ft
FRI
Sep 18
(13s)
Best this week: today — 3.0ft
Best next week: WED Sep 16 — 1.6ft
Model Breakdown
ECMWF (45%)2.4ft
ICON (35%)2.0ft
GFS (20%)2.6ft
Model confidence80%
Updated every 30 mins · Open-Meteo ECMWF + ICON + GFS
About
Buxton sits near the bend of Cape Hatteras, where the Outer Banks jut furthest into the Atlantic. The area around the old lighthouse produces some of the most organized waves on the Carolina coast. Hurricane swells can make this world-class. The reef near the lighthouse holds larger swell than the open beach.
The Break
The Lighthouse (Old Lighthouse Beach) — reef-influenced break holding larger swell. Beach break nearby for smaller days.
Ideal Conditions
E/NE swell 4-12ft, offshore W/NW wind, mid to low tide
Best Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Best months highlighted · Current: Sep
Trip Planner
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Weekend
Weekend · 3 Days
Friday
Fly to Raleigh (RDU), drive to Buxton (4 hrs). Check conditions at the Lighthouse beach area.
Saturday
Dawn patrol at The Lighthouse or nearby reef. Beach break for backup.
Sunday
Morning session, explore Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
Outer Banks Buxton Deep Dive
Full Week · 7 Days
Day 1
Arrive Buxton, settle in, scout The Lighthouse and reef area.
Day 2-4
Multiple sessions at The Lighthouse. Explore nearby breaks toward Frisco.
Day 5
Final session, visit Cape Hatteras Lighthouse or explore the national seashore.
Local Knowledge
01
The Lighthouse is the flagship but has strong currents.
02
Explore the beaches south toward Frisco for uncrowded peaks.
03
Hurricane season (Aug-Oct) brings the best world-class swell.
Best Window
Day 3 · Sep 11
3.3ft @ 9s
FAIR
Trip Cost Estimate
Flights from NYC~$250
Hotel per night~$160
Weekend est.~$730
5 day est.~$1050
Week est.~$1370