🇺🇸 NAGS HEAD, NORTH CAROLINA
Nags Head
Northern Outer Banks beach break with Jennette's Pier
SMALL
Live Conditions
Conditions Summary
Small 2.0ft surf — but short 7s 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 SMALL
Swell Direction
Primary swell is 66° — matches the ideal 80° window for this spot
Swell Period
7s — this is wind chop, not groundswell. Waves will be weak and disorganized.
Wind
6mph onshore — light but will soften wave shape
Tide
Falling tide — workable window
Season
July is shoulder season — spot can still work but swells are less consistent
Data Confidence
Fresh buoy data with calibrated coastal transformation
At the Break
2.0ft
HIGH CONFIDENCE
Fresh buoy data + calibrated transformation
Period
7s
✗ Wind swell
Wind
6mph
SE
ONSHORE
Water
76°F
Boardshorts
Live Buoy 44100
2.3ft
7s
66 min ago
Tide
MID-TIDE · FALLING
1.8ft
Next low: in 6 hr 45 min
Swell Direction
85%
Wind Direction
5%
Primary Swell
1.0ft @ 4.6s
ENE 62°
Secondary Swell
0.8ft @ 6.9s
ESE 109°
10 Day Outlook
2.7ft
TODAY
Jul 28
(7s)
4.7ft
TMRW
Jul 29
(7s)
4.8ft
THU
Jul 30
(7s)
2.8ft
FRI
Jul 31
(8s)
1.9ft
SAT
Aug 1
(8s)
2.6ft
SUN
Aug 2
(7s)
4.1ft
MON
Aug 3
(8s)
4.1ft
TUE
Aug 4
(8s)
2.4ft
WED
Aug 5
(7s)
2.6ft
THU
Aug 6
(7s)
Best this week: today — 2.7ft
Best next week: THU Aug 6 — 2.6ft
Model Breakdown
ECMWF (45%)0.7ft
ICON (35%)1.4ft
GFS (20%)2.4ft
Model confidence45%
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: Jul
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 3 · Jul 30
4.8ft @ 7s
FAIR
Trip Cost Estimate
Flights from NYC~$240
Hotel per night~$170
Weekend est.~$750
5 day est.~$1090
Week est.~$1430