North Carolina
1-2ft waves to start the day on ESE swell at 9s.
1-2ft waves to start the day on ESE swell at 9s.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Kill Devil Hills for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Kill Devil Hills, 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. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on ESE swell at 9s with gentle SW breeze. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on WSW swell at 3s with 12mph WSW winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on W swell at 4s with 17mph W winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and very poor conditions with strong NNE wind at 14mph.
Mon, Sep 7: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 3-4ft and very poor with 16mph NE winds.
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 Kill Devil Hills turns Good.
Check Kill Devil Hills from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Kill Devil Hills is a mellow beach break on the Outer Banks, offering consistent sand-bottom peaks along its east-facing shoreline. The spot benefits from NE Atlantic swells that generate the most reliable conditions during autumn and winter months. As part of the exposed Outer Banks barrier island system, it catches plenty of swell from nor'easters while remaining accessible during calmer periods.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Kill Devil Hills is 1-2ft with a 8.6s swell period. Wind is SW at 6mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Kill Devil Hills is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.7ft ESE primary swell at 9s, a 1.4ft NE wind swell swell at 6s, a 0.6ft S wind swell swell at 3s. 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 Kill Devil Hills is Tuesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 10s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Kill Devil Hills works best with a NE 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 Kill Devil Hills. 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.
Kill Devil Hills is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Kill Devil Hills is a mellow beach break on the Outer Banks, offering consistent sand-bottom peaks along its east-facing shoreline. The spot benefits from NE Atlantic swells that generate the most reliable conditions during autumn and winter months. As part of the exposed Outer Banks barrier island system, it catches plenty of swell from nor'easters while remaining accessible during calmer periods.
The prime season at Kill Devil Hills 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 Kill Devil Hills include strong currents, occasional rip currents, shallow sandbars, crowded during peak seasons. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Kill Devil Hills 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).
