North Carolina
The sweet spot is around midday — 1-2ft waves, 13mph SW winds, poor conditions.
The sweet spot is around midday — 1-2ft waves, 13mph SW winds, poor conditions.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Buxton (North) for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Buxton (North), North Carolina. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on SE swell at 9s with 12mph from the SW. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 4s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on SW swell at 4s with 12mph from the WSW. The SW wind kicks in by afternoon — 20mph and poor by then.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on SW swell at 5s with 16mph WSW winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and very poor conditions with 13mph NE winds.
Mon, Sep 7: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 3-4ft waves and very poor conditions with 21mph out of the NE.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor today — get one free email when Buxton (North) turns Good.
Check Buxton (North) from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Buxton North is a sandy beach break on Hatteras Island near the famous Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. The northeast-facing exposure picks up NE and E swells particularly well during fall and winter months when nor'easters send consistent swell toward the Outer Banks. This stretch offers a more accessible alternative to the expert-level jetty breaks at the cape itself.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Buxton (North) is 1-2ft with a 8.6s swell period. Wind is SW at 14mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Buxton (North) is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.6ft SE primary swell at 9s, a 1.1ft SSW wind swell swell at 2s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Buxton (North) is Tuesday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 3ft waves, a 9.7s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Buxton (North) works best with a NE swell and SW winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Buxton (North). Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Buxton (North) is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Buxton North is a sandy beach break on Hatteras Island near the famous Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. The northeast-facing exposure picks up NE and E swells particularly well during fall and winter months when nor'easters send consistent swell toward the Outer Banks. This stretch offers a more accessible alternative to the expert-level jetty breaks at the cape itself.
The prime season at Buxton (North) is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Buxton (North) include strong currents, shallow sandbar hazards. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Buxton (North) forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable; extended forecasts show general trends. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
