🇺🇸 NAGS HEAD, NORTH CAROLINA
Nags Head
Northern Outer Banks beach break with Jennette's Pier
FAIR
Live Conditions
Conditions Summary
Good 6ft waves — but short 8s period indicates wind swell, expect choppy conditions — hitting at the ideal angle — 6mph onshore wind roughing up the surface — Note: this is outside the peak season for this spot
HIGH CONFIDENCEFresh buoy data + calibrated transformation
Why it's FAIR
Swell Direction
Primary swell is 69° — matches the ideal 80° window for this spot
Swell Period
10s — solid groundswell. Waves will have real energy and organization.
Wind
6mph onshore — light but will soften wave shape
Tide
Rising tide — workable window
Season
May is off-season — rare for this spot to get quality waves
Data Confidence
Fresh buoy data with calibrated coastal transformation
At the Break
5.9ft
HIGH CONFIDENCE
Fresh buoy data + calibrated transformation
Period
10s
Mid-period
Wind
6mph
S
ONSHORE
Water
65°F
Spring suit
Live Buoy 44100
4.6ft
10s
32 min ago
Tide
MID-TIDE · RISING
1.6ft
Next high: in 2 hr 43 min
Swell Direction
100%
Wind Direction
20%
Primary Swell
2.6ft @ 7.1s
ENE 68°
Secondary Swell
0.9ft @ 4.5s
SE 135°
10 Day Outlook
5.4ft
TODAY
May 24
(9s)
4.9ft
TMRW
May 25
(8s)
4.3ft
TUE
May 26
(8s)
3.3ft
WED
May 27
(8s)
3.2ft
THU
May 28
(8s)
2.6ft
FRI
May 29
(8s)
4.2ft
SAT
May 30
(7s)
6.2ft
SUN
May 31
(7s)
5.8ft
MON
Jun 1
(9s)
4.0ft
TUE
Jun 2
(10s)
Best this week: today — 5.4ft
Best next week: MON Jun 1 — 5.8ft
Incoming Swell Events
Today
moderate
Swell building to 5.4ft @ 9s
Day 8
moderate
Swell building to 6.2ft @ 7s
Model Breakdown
ECMWF (45%)1.5ft
ICON (35%)3.0ft
GFS (20%)5.1ft
Model confidence25%
Updated every 30 mins · Open-Meteo ECMWF + ICON + GFS
About
Nags Head is the northern end of the main OBX surf zone, with Jennette's Pier serving as the central landmark. Long exposed beach break with sandbars that reshape through hurricane season. More accessible than Buxton, with a larger tourist infrastructure and more variety in accommodation.
The Break
Jennette's Pier is the main focal point; sandbars up and down the beach produce peaks.
Ideal Conditions
E/NE swell 3-10ft, offshore W/NW wind, mid tide
Best Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Best months highlighted · Current: May
Trip Planner
Nags Head Beach Break Weekend
Weekend · 3 Days
Friday
Fly to Norfolk (ORF), drive to Nags Head (2 hrs). Check Jennette's Pier area.
Saturday
Dawn patrol session. Explore sandbars up and down the beach.
Sunday
Morning session, pack up.
Nags Head Beach Break Week
Full Week · 7 Days
Day 1
Arrive Nags Head, settle near Jennette's Pier, scout the beach.
Day 2-4
Multiple sessions at different sandbar peaks along the beach.
Day 5
Final session, explore the pier area or head south toward Buxton.
Local Knowledge
01
Jennette's Pier has surf webcams and is the center of the local surf scene.
02
More accessible and developed than southern OBX.
03
Sandbars reshape constantly with swell windows.
Best Window
Day 8 · May 31
6.2ft @ 7s
GOOD
Trip Cost Estimate
Flights from NYC~$240
Hotel per night~$170
Weekend est.~$750
5 day est.~$1090
Week est.~$1430