Kitty Hawk Surf Forecast, North Carolina
North Carolina
Current Conditions
PoorWave Height
1-2ft
ankle to knee high
Swell Period
5.65s
Wind
14mph
SSW / Gusts 23mph
Conditions
Poor
Active Swells
Primary
1.0ft @ 9sE
Secondary
0.2ft @ 14sE
Wind Swell
2.8ft @ 6sSSE
Nearest Webcam
Daily Forecast
3 of 5 daysTue, Mar 311-2ft
Poor6am9am12pm3pm
Wed, Apr 11-2ft
PoorSlim pickings today — 0-1ft and poor with moderate SSW wind around 11mph. Afternoon breeze fills in to 16mph.
6am9am12pm3pm
6s SE|11-16mph SSW
Thu, Apr 21-2ft
PoorSlim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with gentle SW breeze.
6am9am12pm3pm
7s SE|6-8mph S
3ft
Swell building Sat, Apr 4Fair
9s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
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Kitty Hawk Surf Spot Guide
Break
Beach
Bottom
Sand
Level
Beginner
Crowd
Moderate
Best Swell
E
Best Wind
W
Season
Fall
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.
Occasional strong currentsShallow sandbarsCrowded during peak seasonWind chop from onshore afternoon winds
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
Kitty Hawk Surf Forecast FAQ
What is the current surf forecast for Kitty Hawk?
The current wave height at Kitty Hawk is 1-2ft with a 5.65s swell period. Wind is SSW at 14mph. Conditions are rated Poor.
How accurate is the Kitty Hawk surf forecast?
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.
What is the breaking wave height at Kitty Hawk?
The current breaking wave height at Kitty Hawk is 1-2ft, produced by a 1ft E primary swell at 9s, a 0.2ft E secondary swell at 14s, a 2.8ft SSE wind swell swell at 6s. 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.
When is the best time to surf Kitty Hawk?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Kitty Hawk is Saturday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 3ft waves, a 8.55s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.