🇺🇸 OUTER BANKS, NORTH CAROLINA

Cape Hatteras

The Graveyard of the Atlantic delivers world-class sandbars and hurricane swells

FLAT

Live Conditions

Conditions Summary

Small 1.8ft surf — but short 6s period indicates wind swell, expect choppy conditions — from a workable direction — light cross-shore winds, still manageable

HIGH CONFIDENCEFresh buoy data + calibrated transformation

Why it's FLAT

Swell Direction

Primary swell is 124° — close to but not perfectly aligned with ideal 90°. Spot will work but not at its best.

Swell Period

7s — this is wind chop, not groundswell. Waves will be weak and disorganized.

Wind

11mph cross-shore — not ideal but surfable if wind is light

Tide

Falling tide — workable window

Season

September is peak season for this spot

Data Confidence

Fresh buoy data with calibrated coastal transformation

At the Break

1.8ft

HIGH CONFIDENCE

Fresh buoy data + calibrated transformation

Period

✗ Wind swell

Wind

11mph

CROSS-SHORE

Water

79°F

Boardshorts

Live Buoy 44095

2.0ft

50 min ago

Tide

MID-TIDE · FALLING

0.99ft

Next low: in 5 hr 19 min

Swell Direction

70%

Wind Direction

65%

Primary Swell

2.0ft @ 5.5s

ESE 122°

Secondary Swell

0.7ft @ 3.0s

SSW 192°

10 Day Outlook

3.3ft

TODAY

Sep 10

(10s)

3.4ft

TMRW

Sep 11

(9s)

2.0ft

SAT

Sep 12

(9s)

3.0ft

SUN

Sep 13

(9s)

2.8ft

MON

Sep 14

(9s)

2.8ft

TUE

Sep 15

(9s)

2.6ft

WED

Sep 16

(7s)

2.7ft

THU

Sep 17

(9s)

3.8ft

FRI

Sep 18

(8s)

5.8ft

SAT

Sep 19

(8s)

Best this week: TUE Sep 15 — 2.8ft

Best next week: SAT Sep 19 — 5.8ft

Incoming Swell Events

Day 10

moderate

Swell building to 5.8ft @ 8s

Model Breakdown

ECMWF (45%)2.1ft

ICON (35%)2.4ft

GFS (20%)2.2ft

Model confidence95%

Updated every 30 mins · Open-Meteo ECMWF + ICON + GFS

About

Cape Hatteras is the crown jewel of East Coast surfing, jutting 30 miles into the Atlantic where warm Gulf Stream waters meet cold Labrador currents. This exposed barrier island catches more swell than anywhere on the Eastern Seaboard, producing powerful beach breaks and legendary waves around the lighthouse.

The Break

The Lighthouse area near Cape Point — shifting sandbars create powerful A-frame peaks. Paddle through the channel, position on the peak, and expect steep drops into barreling sections.

Ideal Conditions

Hurricane or nor'easter groundswell 4-8ft, light offshore winds, hollow sandbars

Best Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Best months highlighted · Current: Sep

Trip Planner

Hurricane Swell Weekend

Weekend · 3 Days

Friday

Fly into Norfolk (ORF), 2hr drive to Buxton. Scout conditions at the Lighthouse. Evening session at S-Turns if swell is building. Fresh seafood at Diamond Shoals Restaurant.

Saturday

Dawn patrol at the Lighthouse for morning offshore winds. Breakfast at Orange Blossom Bakery. Rest midday, check Frisco Pier or Old Lighthouse Beach. Late afternoon session at whatever is firing.

Sunday

Early session at Cape Point if conditions hold. Explore Rodanthe Pier for variety. Pack up noon, final lunch at Rusty's Surf and Turf, drive back to Norfolk.

Ultimate Outer Banks Surf Safari

Full Week · 7 Days

Day 1

Arrive Norfolk, drive to Nags Head. Afternoon session at Jennette's Pier. Dinner at Sam and Omie's.

Day 2

Morning surf Nags Head dunes, drive south to Pea Island, surf Rodanthe Pier area.

Day 3

Dawn session at S-Turns in Salvo. Drive to Buxton, surf the Lighthouse all afternoon.

Day 4

Full day Cape Point — arrive early for parking. Multiple sessions as sandbars shift. Bring lunch.

Day 5

Explore Hatteras Village south-facing beaches. Visit the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum.

Day 6

Ferry to Ocracoke Island. Surf uncrowded beach breaks. Return on evening ferry.

Day 7

Final dawn patrol at the Lighthouse. Drive north checking Avon Pier, Salvo, Rodanthe. Fly home from Norfolk.

Local Knowledge

Cape Point requires a 4WD vehicle with beach driving permit — air tires down to 15-20 PSI.

Sandbars shift constantly after big swells — be prepared to move around to find the best banks.

Peak hurricane season August-October brings the biggest swells — weekdays are much less crowded.

Water temps range from 50s in winter to 80s in summer — 3/2mm wetsuit in fall and spring.

Respect the locals who surf here year-round — follow lineup etiquette and be friendly.