North Carolina
Midday is the call — 1-2ft waves with 8mph SW winds and poor conditions.
Midday is the call — 1-2ft waves with 8mph SW winds and poor conditions.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Kitty Hawk for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Kitty Hawk, 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. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on ESE swell at 9s with 8mph SW winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 3s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on WSW swell at 3s and 13mph WSW winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on W swell at 3s with strong W wind at 15mph. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
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. Not the most exciting day — 3-4ft and very poor conditions with 15mph 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 Kitty Hawk turns Good.
Check Kitty Hawk from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Kitty Hawk is a classic East Coast beach break on the Outer Banks, offering consistent sand-bottom peaks that work well for surfers of all levels. The east-facing beach picks up NE swells from nor'easters and E swells particularly well during autumn and winter when Atlantic storms generate quality groundswell.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Kitty Hawk is 1-2ft with a 5.9s swell period. Wind is SW at 8mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Kitty Hawk is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.5ft NE wind swell swell at 6s, a 1.4ft ESE secondary swell at 9s. 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 Kitty Hawk 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.
Kitty Hawk 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 Kitty Hawk. 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.
Kitty Hawk is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Kitty Hawk is a classic East Coast beach break on the Outer Banks, offering consistent sand-bottom peaks that work well for surfers of all levels. The east-facing beach picks up NE swells from nor'easters and E swells particularly well during autumn and winter when Atlantic storms generate quality groundswell.
The prime season at Kitty Hawk 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 Kitty Hawk include occasional strong currents, shallow sandbars, crowded during peak season, wind chop from onshore afternoon winds. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Kitty Hawk 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).
