North Carolina
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Ocracoke, North Carolina. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sat, May 16: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on SE swell at 8s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 15mph from the S and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SE swell at 8s and moderate SW wind around 9mph. Onshore flow builds through the day to 16mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with moderate WSW wind around 9mph. Afternoon breeze fills in to 13mph.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with 7mph from the SSW.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with 9mph from the SW. Afternoon breeze fills in to 15mph.
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Ocracoke is the wild card of North Carolina surfing — a remote barrier island accessible only by ferry with miles of empty beach breaks. The waves here are notoriously fast and racy, catching many surfers off guard. What works in Corolla won't work here and vice versa. Rare summer south swells can produce legendary sessions with no one around. The charming village and total lack of development make the ferry trip worthwhile.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Ocracoke is 2-3ft with a 8.05s swell period. Wind is SW at 2mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Ocracoke is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.3ft SE primary swell at 8s, a 1.4ft E secondary swell at 10s, a 1.2ft SSW 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 Ocracoke is Saturday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 2ft waves, a 8s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Ocracoke works best with a SE swell and NW 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 Ocracoke. 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.
Ocracoke is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Ocracoke is the wild card of North Carolina surfing — a remote barrier island accessible only by ferry with miles of empty beach breaks. The waves here are notoriously fast and racy, catching many surfers off guard. What works in Corolla won't work here and vice versa. Rare summer south swells can produce legendary sessions with no one around. The charming village and total lack of development make the ferry trip worthwhile.
The prime season at Ocracoke 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 Ocracoke include strong currents, limited services, ferry-dependent access. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Ocracoke 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
