North Carolina
A slow one — 2-3ft waves and poor - fair conditions with moderate SW wind around 12mph.
A slow one — 2-3ft waves and poor - fair conditions with moderate SW wind around 12mph.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Cape Hatteras for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Cape Hatteras, 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: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SE swell at 9s with 12mph SW winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 4s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on SW swell at 4s and moderate WSW wind around 12mph. Onshore flow builds through the day to 20mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Patience pays off today — morning is poor with 1-2ft. The breeze eases and things smooth out to very poor by PM.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and very poor with 13mph from the NE.
Mon, Sep 7: 3–4ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 2-3+ft and very poor conditions with strong ENE wind at 22mph.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor - Fair today — get one free email when Cape Hatteras turns Good.
Check Cape Hatteras from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Cape Hatteras is the crown jewel of East Coast surfing, where the barrier islands bend sharply east into the Atlantic near Diamond Shoals. Three old groins create defined peaks — the First Jetty produces barreling lefts on NE swell, while the Third Jetty delivers sweeping rights on S/SE swell. The cape's unique geometry acts as a wave magnet, picking up swell from virtually every direction, and proximity to the Gulf Stream delivers powerful groundswells year-round.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Cape Hatteras is 2-3ft with a 8.5s swell period. Wind is SW at 12mph. Conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Cape Hatteras is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.2ft SE primary swell at 9s, a 0.8ft SW wind swell swell at 2s, a 0.8ft NE wind swell swell at 7s. 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 Cape Hatteras is Tuesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 10.1s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Cape Hatteras works best with a E swell and W 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 Cape Hatteras. 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.
Cape Hatteras is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to expert surfers. Cape Hatteras is the crown jewel of East Coast surfing, where the barrier islands bend sharply east into the Atlantic near Diamond Shoals. Three old groins create defined peaks — the First Jetty produces barreling lefts on NE swell, while the Third Jetty delivers sweeping rights on S/SE swell. The cape's unique geometry acts as a wave magnet, picking up swell from virtually every direction, and proximity to the Gulf Stream delivers powerful groundswells year-round.
The prime season at Cape Hatteras 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 Cape Hatteras include submerged jetty pilings and metal, strong rips and undertow, heavy localism, powerful cleanup sets, shifting sandbars. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Cape Hatteras 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).
