North Carolina
Best window·Wednesday 6AM–9AM·3ft·Fair
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on ESE swell at 8s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 12mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Wed, Jul 1: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on ESE swell at 7s with 7mph E winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Thu, Jul 2: 2–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 2ft waves and poor - fair conditions with light SSE winds.
Fri, Jul 3: 2–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Not the most exciting day — 2ft and poor - fair conditions with 9mph from the WSW.
Sat, Jul 4: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with strong WSW wind at 16mph.
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 6.8s swell period. Wind is NE at 14mph and conditions are rated Very Poor. 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 3.7ft E 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 Wednesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 7.15s swell period, and conditions rated 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
